Strikers should fight – Guardiola

PEP GUARDIOLA has told his arsenal of attacking players that they must welcome the fierce competition for places.

The Manchester City manager has Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva competing for around four positions.

That competition will only increase if Guardiola signs Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe or Ousmane Dembele of Borussia Dortmund.

Guardiola insists he needs a wide range of attacking options if City want to compete for the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

“We have many strikers, but need them,” Guardiola said before tonight’s home game against Everton. “We have four competitions and a lot of games. We need all of them. Hopefully they will understand that, at the big clubs, you cannot have 11 players, so they have to compete with each other.

“When the game is in the last 20 minutes, the opponent is tired and we can put in dynamic players like Silva, Sterling or Sane. In another game, maybe it’s Sergio or Gabriel.”

City are favourites to win the title, but Guardiola added: “If we win, people will say nice words, but if we don’t win, people will say he’s not able to train in the Premier League. When we lose three games in a row, we are not favourites. So it’s simple.” (© Daily Telegraph, London) Manchester City v Everton, live, Sky Sports, 8.0