PEP HAS NEW POP AT JOSE
PEP GUARDIOLA took another swipe at Jose Mourinho yesterday as he praised Tottenham and Chelsea for staying true to their tactical beliefs.
Guardiola did not include Manchester United as a team who believe they can impose their style on the opposition.
Leaders Manchester City can go 21 points clear of Tottenham if they beat them at the Etihad tomorrow evening and manager Guardiola said: ‘Tottenham are with Chelsea as the best team in wanting to play football.
‘They don’t expect their opponents (to force the play), they want to make their own game. It is another amazing test for us after games every three days. After, we have Leicester in the Carabao Cup and there is not too much time for recovery, but we are ready.’
Mourinho, meanwhile, is in hot water with the FA over comments made before last Sunday’s derby.
The United boss accused Manchester City of regularly committing ‘tactical fouls’ and put emphasis on the decision-making of referees.
‘It is a strategy they have,’ he said. ‘Many times they need what is called a tactical foul. Then it is up to the referee to analyse and make a decision, but I cannot speak about that.’
That could have been construed as putting pressure on referee Michael Oliver before Sunday’s defeat at Old Trafford and the FA have asked Mourinho for his observations.
Guardiola is mindful of the strain on his players and wants to add at least one defender to his squad next month. City have homed in on Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk and Inigo Martinez of Real Sociedad as potential signings.
Martinez’s release clause is around £29million, while Van Dijk’s Premier League experience is appealing.
John Stones and Vincent Kompany are out injured which, although not affecting City so far, has highlighted the need for another player to carry the load. First City must take care of Tottenham, and Harry Winks has challenged his team-mates to prove to Guardiola they are more than just the ‘Harry Kane team’.
The 21-year-old England midfielder believes Spurs can bring an end to City’s extraordinary winning streak tomorrow.
City are looking for their 16th straight Premier League victory and Guardiola infuriated Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino when he referred to Tottenham as the ‘Harry Kane team’ earlier this season.
Asked if a visit to the Etihad offered an opportunity to prove Guardiola wrong, Winks said: ‘Yeah, exactly. We just want to go there and win. That’s the most important thing.
‘We know what we’re like as a team and how good we are. It’s a good place to go and set our standard and make a point.
‘We think we can go there and match them.’