Tricky away tie
It’ll be anything but easy for Pep’s men
Champions Man City visit Wolves in key Premier League clash
LONDON: Manchester City will look to continue their good run of form when they travel to Wolves tonight.
Pep Guardiola‘s men have struggled this season in comparison to previous campaigns but have comfortably beaten Arsenal and Leicester City in their last two league games.
Liverpool play Leicester on Boxing Day, meaning the Citizens could be 14 points off the pace at the top of the table by the time they kick off. Three points against Wolves is a must but, as always, it will be anything but easy against Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.
Guardiola has even admitted that he is “not optimistic” about catching leaders Liverpool during the second half of the season as he does not expect Juergen Klopp’s men to lose “four or five games” between now and the end of the campaign.
The Spaniard’s admission suggests he knows his team can ill-afford to drop any more points themselves.
Meanwhile Guardiola, who expects to be without Sergio Aguero, David Silva and John Stones for today’s visit to Wolves, also responded to comments from former club captain Vincent Kompany who urged City to sign his old boss to a long-term contract.
“If I was in a deciding position at City now, I would do everything I can to keep Pep for as long as I can. He is truly the best,” said Kompany.
“To say anyone will ever come near, it is speculating in a ludicrous way.”
Guardiola is under contract until after the end of the 2020/21 season and has repeatedly insisted he will see out his current deal, despite reports that he has a ‘break’ clause which would allow him to leave City following the conclusion of the current campaign.
“This season is the fourth season and one more, next season will be five because I’m trying to stay here next season too,” he said.
The former Barcelona and Bayern
Munich manager added: “That’s a long time. I’m incredibly good here.
“To sign a contract you have to see how it works and if I deserve it,” explained Guardiola, whose side are 11 points behind runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool.
“We’ve increased our levels a lot and the expectations are higher. We’ll see if we can handle it. It’s not just my desire. Now we have a little break with the family over Christmas and we have time to think about the future.”