City chairman expects more under Guardiola
THE chairman of English Premier League champions Manchester City is confident the club will reach even greater heights under the “relentless” Pep Guardiola despite having just completed a record-breaking season.
City became the first Premier League champions to post 100 points and won the title by a huge 19 points from second-placed Manchester United.
And with Guardiola having signed a new contract, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak expects further progress under the Catalan manager.
“My expectation and the management expectation, certainly Pep’s expectation, is that this team will continue to improve,” Al Mubarak told City TV yesterday.
“We have a coach, or a manager, in Pep that is relentless.
“There is not going to be any relaxation. That I can assure you.
“I have no doubt that this summer we’re going to come back and we’re going to be hungry and we’re going to be more aggressive and we’re going to continue to go and improve.”
City have won three Premier League titles since the Abu Dhabi United Group overseen by Sheikh Mansour took over the club in 2008.
But they have yet to win back-toback titles under their Gulf state owners, while the Champions League remains an elusive prize.
Nevertheless, a bullish Al Mubarak added: “We’ve worked very hard over the last couple of years to build the squad, not only for this season, but for many seasons to come.
“This is a young squad. Many of our most talented players are under the age of 26.
“You don’t get to 100 points without a full, high-quality squad, which is what we have.
“Any additions have to improve the squad – this is my biggest learning from the years of chairing this club.
“When winning bringing new players in is a very important decision, because you have a winning formula that’s just won.
“Whatever you’re going to add has to be a decision that you don’t take very lightly at all and you have to bring players that will strengthen, improve and add competition in the squad. That is key.”
Al Mubarak said giving former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager Guardiola a two-year contract extension that will keep him at Eastlands until 2020/21 had been a straightforward decision.
“Pep has been a joy to have as part of this club,” he said. “We see eye to eye.
“We shook hands on it and are happy to continue this journey.”
All that said, Guardiola expects to sign only sign two new players to achieve City’s target of winning back- to-back Premier League titles.
He wants a midfielder to replace Yaya Toure and another attacking player.
Napoli’s Brazilian-born Jorginho and Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez – who City made an abortive £60 million (RM320m) bid for in January – are understood to be his chief targets.
Guardiola admits that his near-£500 million (RM2.6b) spending spree on a dozen players during his first two years as City boss means his budget will be smaller this summer.
“We cannot invest – people don’t believe me, but we don’t have the money for £300 million (RM1.6b) every season,” he said.
“Yaya is leaving so we have to replace him. Maybe one other up front. Just one or two signings. We have four competitions. It is tough. We need new faces to compete.”
Last week, Guardiola was named the LMA Manager of the Year. – AFP & Agencies