Look, you need a change of attitude
PEP GUARDIOLA has piled the pressure on rivals Tottenham to find a venue for their Premier League clash in October by telling them he is opposed to switching the game to the Etihad Stadium.
Spurs are struggling to finish their new stadium at White Hart Lane in time for the game on October 28 and have yet to come up with an alternative solution.
It is understood City bosses have not been approached by Spurs about the problem and have had no dialogue.
Wembley is not an option given it hosts an NFL clash that day and Twickenham has also been ruled out.
One idea is to reverse the game and stage it at the Etihad, but this would leave City with the prospect of finishing the season with four away games out of five.
Guardiola has made it clear he will not agree to switching the fixture to Manchester and his determined stance increases the pressure on Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to find a suitable solution for all parties.
“The only thing I can say is the last five games, four are away and that’s a problem if we are playing for the Premier League title,” said Guardiola.
“I am a manager for what happens on the pitch. If they want to suggest something they will speak with our CEO [Ferran Soriano].
“We want to help the Premier League. This delay can happen because it will be an amazing stadium. Sometimes there are delays. We can adapt, but we will also think of ourselves.”
Guardiola has confirmed Kevin De Bruyne is likely to be sidelined for three months and revealed the tear of lateral ligaments in his right knee was down to fatigue.
De Bruyne was given three weeks off after the World Cup, having played over 500 minutes in helping Belgium reach the semi-finals at Russia 2018.
But the midfielder pulled up in training on Wednesday and will be out until mid November.
He is set to miss City’s first four Champions League games as well as the Spurs clash and another potentially key game against Liverpool on October 7.
It also seems unlikely the 27-year-old will be fit for the Manchester derby on November 11. Guardiola said: “He will be a big miss. Last season Kevin was MARCO SILVA has told wantaway youngster Ademola Lookman he has to fight for his dreams at Everton.
The England Under-21 star was left out of the Blues squad last weekend, with the manager admitting he is not happy at the club and amid suggestions he is trying to force a move to Leipzig, where he enjoyed a loan spell last season.
There were even claims the 20-year-old had refused to travel to Wolves last Saturday and would miss training, but Silva dismissed both rumours.
The new Goodison Park boss though, hinted the player’s attitude is not right when he fired a warning shot at Lookman, saying he had to fight for what he wants with the club who pays his wages.
“Lookman knows very well why he wasn’t in the squad last week. It was a technical decision. But I can tell you he has trained very well this week and has responded how I wanted him to,” said Silva.
“Even if he’s not really happy, he has to be in the future, and it is a matter of him fighting for what he wants in his career.
“In this moment he is our player, I am happy to keep him as our player, and now it is up to him to fight for his position, for a place in the starting XI and in our squad list as well.”
Silva’s opposite number today, Mark Hughes, is backing Nathan Redmond to shut up the Southampton boo boys by becoming a ‘game-changer’.
Winger Redmond was targeted by his own supporters as the south-coast club narrowly escaped relegation last season.
But Hughes said: “I speak with Redders every single day. He is a good kid who wants to get better.
“Every team need a player like that; players that can change games in your favour. He creates chances for himself and others. You have to have players like Redders, who have that little bit of stardust.
“He is in a good place at the moment, so we are really pleased with what he is producing. He got a good response at the weekend.
“He has got a lot more development but it is always linked with confidence.”