BLUE SKY SCRAPERS
New York has changed since Pep lived there, and Premier League has changed because Pep worked there.. in fact EVERYTHING is higher now after City raised standards
ASKED how New York had changed in the five years since he lived here, Pep Guardiola replied: “The city is taller and higher.”
What is also higher is the bar raised by his Manchester City in winning the Premier League last season in recordbreaking fashion.
Guardiola feels that is why Liverpool have splashed out £175million – including a world-record £65m for a goalkeeper in Alisson.
He refused to criticise Jurgen Klopp for making a mockery of his claim two years ago that he “wanted to do it differently” at Anfield and not rely on the chequebook for success, saying the German must act as he thinks best for Liverpool.
“Every club, do what they believe,” said the City boss, speaking from the hotel overlooking Central Park where he and his men are staying ahead of their friendly with Liverpool in New Jersey tomorrow.
“I understand completely and I’m not concerned about what one of us says one day. It’s a different set of circumstances.
“Liverpool believe they need these kind of players because it is best for them. I’m not going to judge what the others do.
“I don’t like it when my colleagues speak about me or my players, so I’m not going to say anything. If they believe it’s the best for them, it’s perfect for them.
“Last season we increased the levels of the Premier League to 100 points. The level was here, now it’s up here. We try to take the level higher and every team tries to do better and better.”
The pressure is now on Klopp to show Liverpool can challenge City. Guardiola expects them to be in the running and for Manchester United, Chelsea, Spurs – and even West Ham under new manager Manuel Pellegrini (below) – to be stronger.
“They are contenders to win the title,” he said. “We are one also, and Liverpool are a contender.
“My two seasons here, we were contenders in one of them, and in the future, Liverpool with the history they have, will be a contender to win the Premier League.
“All the contenders. United will be stronger and Liverpool and Chelsea and Tottenham and some of the others. Everton have appointed a good manager.
“West Ham . . Manuel Pellegrini has come back and bought a lot of players. “Always at the beginning, the expectation of every team is high. We just want to continue what we started two seasons ago. Nobody knows what’s going to happen in the Premier League next season. Then we will start to play and you will see.”
What Guardiola can confidently predict is City will not match the exploits of the last campaign, when they set Premier League records for most points, wins and goals scored.
“We’re not going to break any more records in the Premier League,” he said. “It’s impossible, almost impossible.
“The target is always to win the next game. In the end the records we set last season were a consequence of what we did in every single game.
“If we compare in December, January or February what is the position, we’re going to lose everything we have done.
“The only way is to focus on the next game, next game, next game.”