Delph: City’s only target is next three points on the board
Pep Guardiola believes his Manchester City side are stronger then last season’s record-breaking one, despite the fact they are trailing Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
The Spaniard feels that the team have developed more options, both defensively and offensively, from the side who won the championship in 2017-18 by 19 points, becoming the first club to reach 100 points along the way. “In little details we are better than last season, which is normal because we have more time together,” he told Sky Sports.
Asked how City have improved, Guardiola said: “Our process, build-ups, our high pressing we can use different movements, we have more alternatives to defend into attack and we are more solid when we defend deeper.”
Meanwhile, Fabian Delph says City are determined to bounce back quickly from their shock loss to Crystal Palace as they travel to Leicester City today.
Guardiola’s men suffered an unexpected lapse as they slumped to a 3-2 defeat at Etihad Stadium on Saturday. Defeats remain rare for City but, after two of them in their last three Premier League outings, the title initiative has been handed to Liverpool.
The Merseysiders now have a four-point cushion at the top of the table ahead of the round of fixtures that marks the season’s halfway point.
No team since Manchester United in 2009 has successfully won back-to-back titles and the pressure is now on City to find an immediate response after suffering two defeats so far in December, the first coming against Chelsea on December 8.
Delph said: “It is important not to dwell on the past and to live in the present. That game is finished now, it’s about the next game. It’s about getting the three points on the board.”
City will hope midfielder Fernandinho will be fit to return after missing the Palace clash with a recurrence of a thigh problem.
The Brazilian’s control was sorely missed. David Silva remains on the sidelines but with Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez – all of who were substitutes at the weekend – ready to come in, Delph accepts the champions are hardly down to the bare bones.
The busy schedule for City sees them after today go to Southampton on Sunday before their opening game of 2019 sees them play host to title rivals Liverpool.