PLAY FOR CITY? IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEADSPACE
Guardiola will only sign... MENTALITY MONSTERS
PEP GUARDIOLA has claimed that new signing Erland Haaland is a mentality monster who perfectly fits Manchester City’s blueprint for success.
And the City boss revealed he is eyeing up other top players he could draft into the Etihad this summer as his stars close in on a fourth Premier League title in five seasons.
City already have 21-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker Haaland in the bag after securing the Norwegian for a bargain £51million transfer fee, although huge agency payments, signing-on fees and wages reportedly smash the deal through the £200m barrier over the five-year contract.
Guardiola has insisted he will only sign players who possess the mentality to become serial winners – with desire, hunger and ambition every bit as important as raw talent.
“There are many incredible players around the world who could fit in and play here, without a doubt,” he said.
“The world is so big, a thousand million teams and top talented players. I like players that are not satisfied with individual honours, they want success as a team.
“As long as they are good players with this special mentality of wanting to win again and again every day and not be satisfied.
“With the demands in England and other top countries, they have to handle that mentality.
“Everyone knows the top teams in England, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany and France.
“But the big difference is that the top players can handle the big teams.
“When you do a pass it comes from the head, not the feet. That is the most important thing to find. Everything is in the head. Every action comes from there.
“But, of course, when you arrive at a club like City and other clubs around the world with high standards, you either adapt or you can’t be here.
“And, of course, we all have to prove ourselves again, myself too, every season.”
Guardiola believes players like Haaland are drawn to play for City because of the nature of the club – not because he’s the boss.
“The players who come here don’t come to play for me, they come to play in this league and for this club,” said the Catalan.
“Many things are involved. People don’t come here just for a month or a year. Sergio Aguero came here and did 10 years.
“David Silva came here and did 10 years, Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure the same.
“Many important players arrive here and stay a long time. How long depends if they are happy.
“What we do is try to make them feel happy in the city, in the locker room, in the Premier League and many things.”
Guardiola insists he won’t change his approach on the title run-in – and City will play their usual brand of attacking football to try and clinch the crown ahead of rivals Liverpool.
He added: “My feeling is that this season we have better deep runners to attack the backline much more consistently.”