PEP GUARDIOLA in his own words . . .

What are you looking for from the team on Monday?

I don’t like to play on Monday, the last game, when everybody is done and you play. In terms of results, you never got good results when you play the last game on a Monday. Everton will be tough. But I expect a good game and to win, of course.

Is closing the transfer window when the season starts a good idea?

It would be nice. We will start the season with the squad that we’ll work with until the winter window. It will be better I think for all the clubs, not just in England but from all around the world.

The managers and the clubs will work quicker and not wait for the last second.

In the back three, why is Vincent Kompany on the right?

Because John (Stones) has a specific quality to squeeze our game. His reading is so good to be high against the opponents.

In duels, Vincent is much better than John and normally duels happen in Vincent’s position, not John’s. With the first step, the first pass, John is better than the others.

Can you cope with the expectation of being favourites?

It’s the same expectation as last season. But after 4-0 for Manchester United, we are less favourites. And when we lose one game, we are not definitely favourites. When we lose three games in a row, we are not favourites. So it’s simple.

You were better away than home last year. Can you explain it?

No. I thought a lot about that, but I didn’t find a reason why. Hope- fully, this season, at home we can win a lot of games.

What’s the thinking behind so many strikers?

We need them. We have four competitions and a lot of games.

Is your squad good enough to win titles?

Every season I start I always believe my players are the best. After that we decide what is best to make our club stronger.