SIR JIM WILL GET IT RIGHT

Guardiola backs Ratcliffe

BOURNEMOUTH MAN CITY 5.30PM, SKY

PEP GUARDIOLA is backing Sir Jim Ratcliffe to revive the fortunes of Manchester United but says his champions are not going anywhere.

The Manchester City head coach, preparing for today’s trip to Bournemouth, was responding to comments from United’s new co-owner after he vowed to knock the neighbours off their perch.

Guardiola said: “I’m pretty sure with Sir Jim and the other people that United are going to take a step forward.

“I feel they know exactly what they have to do, appoint the people they need to appoint with their experience in the business world to make projects better.

“It’s not just United, all the teams want it. As long as I’m here, we will try to be there again – the rest, I don’t care.

“With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho they were second – I would say not close like Liverpool have been, but they were there. I always expect United to be there, with their history and traditions.

“I don’t know why it didn’t happen – I guess they know why. It is their business not ours.” Guardiola also claimed incumbent Erik ten Hag and other managers were not to blame for the club’s slide.

Guardiola added: “You don’t have success if all the elements of the club are not together, it’s impossible.

“People think it comes from the manager because he’s talking here six times a week.That is insane – it makes no sense.

“It comes from choosing the right departments, the best people with the same idea.

“After that the rest is a question of work, work and work.”

Guardiola takes his team to the South

Coast concerned by the prospect of the title being decided on goal difference, after his side had 56 shots in the past two home games against Chelsea and Brentford but scored just twice.

He said: “We have to score more. We are creating shots, not on target. In those positions in the last two games we should be

doing more. But what’s important is how many chances, what is the average?

“As much as we create, unless you concede all the time you are closer to winning the games.

“Goal difference can always happen. It happened in the past with Liverpool when we won by a small margin, and right now we are below two teams.”

Kevin De Bruyne is available after missing the win against Brentford on Tuesday as a precaution following his recent hamstring injury.

He has the experience to make projects better