Arteta takes reins of City’s ‘Incredibles’
MIKEL ARTETA believes Pep Guardiola has the best squad in the world at Manchester City.
Arteta, City’s assistant manager, will take charge for tonight’s Champions League group stage opener against Lyon with Guardiola beginning a one-match touchline ban.
Guardiola was sent to the stands during City’s Champions League quarter-final defeat by Liverpool in April for haranguing the referee at half-time.
But Arteta has no fears.
“We have the best players in the world and I look at them as if they are the best,” said Arteta. “I see how they behave, how they react. The positives, negatives and qualities, weaknesses.
“I wouldn’t change my players for any others. They are absolutely fantastic, the hunger in this group is incredible.
“People talk about the money there is to spend. But people have to look inside this club, at what we have created – it’s phenomenal.
“I don’t believe that money is the reason people think we can challenge for the Champions League.
“The reason is how consistent we have been and the way we play against big teams.
“But it’s a very difficult competition and I’m sure Lyon will be tough.”
Despite winning the Premier League last season with a record 100 points and by a record 19-point margin, City were knocked out of Europe in that quarter-final against Liverpool when Guardiola lost his cool.
But City have been installed as favourites again this season.
Arteta, who took yesterday’s press conference in the absence of Guardiola, said: “I’m surprised when you have a team [in Real Madrid] who won it three times in a row, but that means we’re doing things really well and people seriously think we’re candidates to compete against other teams in Europe.
“It has to be a motivation, not a pressure, and that’s the way we take it. Hopefully we can improve on the last two seasons, because we came up short.
“Real Madrid have something special in this competition. They deal with every detail better than everyone else. They are the main favourites. The rest of us, we have to catch up and make that gap smaller, but it’s a very open Champions League.
“We have a very young squad but they gained a lot of experience in the last two years and we feel better prepared.”
Guardiola is not permitted to have any contact with his staff or players from when they enter the stadium until the game is over.
“Obviously he’s very disappointed,” said Arteta. “We all know how much the Champions League means to him.
“I’ll try to do my best, to reduce the impact of not having Pep, but for the rest it is normal.
“The difference tomorrow is we will have some rules that you must respect.
“We can have no communication. I’ll be on the touchline and I’ll try to make the right decisions.
“It’s a good challenge, a very nice challenge. If I had to choose I would choose Pep on the touchline because he does that job better than anyone else.”
The former Arsenal and Everton midfielder was linked with the Gunners job in the summer but Unai Emery was appointed. And Arteta, 36, said: “In football it’s so hard to predict things. You all know something happened but the reality is I’m here and I’m very happy.
“The decision was made and I’m so happy. I’m very privileged to be where I am, very fulfilled.” (4-3-3) EDERSON WALKER RAFAEL KOMPANY MARCELO LAPORTE DENAYER DELPH MENDY FERNANDINHO TOUSART GUNDOGAN NDOMBELE B SILVA AOUAR D SILVA TRAORE STERLING FEKIR AGUERO DEMBELE REF: D Orsato (Ita). TV: BT Sport 3. KICK-OFF: 8pm.