Irish Sunday Mirror

PEP’S REVENGE MISSION TO STORM PALACE

- BY SIMON MULLOCK

PEP GUARDIOLA does not give a damn about Jurgen Klopp or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Roy Hodgson is the only manager the Manchester City boss has in his sights.

The 73-year-old former England coach has taken four points off Guardiola from two visits to the Etihad Stadium.

So when title rivals Liverpool and Manchester United lock horns before City face Palace, the only thing Guardiola and his team will be focusing on is an eighth successive win.

City have exploded the myth they are a spent force with a 14-game unbeaten run that has propelled them into the top four, the Carabao Cup final and the last 16 of the Champions League.

And Guardiola (right) said: “I don’t think the players are more optimistic or angry or upset because people don’t consider them as contenders this season – or think that maybe United and Liverpool are better than us. “And I don’t care how many games we are able to win in a row or not win in a row. “It is just Crystal Palace. It’s Zaha, it’s Eze, Benteke, it is Roy Hodgson, Milivojevi­c. “This is the only thing I’m concerned about since the day after we beat Brighton. I think getting confidence comes from how you perform in the last game.

“If you dream about being top of the league or being in a better position, you don’t play good and you are not going to achieve it.”

City were beaten 3-2 by Palace when they retained the title two seasons ago.

Last year, a final-minute Fernandinh­o own goal enabled the Londoners to grab a point.

The memories of those setbacks clearly rankle with Guardiola. He added: “Crystal Palace is the only result I want. I want to beat them.

“The rest? Honestly, I don’t care. Because in the last two seasons at home to Palace we got only one point.

“Our performanc­es at Selhurst Park have been much better than at the Etihad Stadium.

“That’s why the only concern I have is winning against Crystal Palace.”

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