Pep: We won’t do favours for you, Spurs
Manchester cItY manager Pep Guardiola admitted he is opposed to doing tottenham any favours by switching their Premier League match to the etihad stadium.
spurs are facing problems finishing their £1billion redevelopment of White hart Lane before the home game on October 28 and Wembley is not an option given it hosts an nFL game that day.
Guardiola made it clear reversing the fixture from London to the north west represents a significant problem for city, whose away games would stack up at the end of the season.
‘I can only say if that happens, of the last five games four are away and that is a problem,’ Guardiola said. ‘I think when you are maybe playing for the Premier League... four games away is a little bit different. I’m a manager for what happens on the pitch. If they want to suggest something they’ll speak with our ceO (Ferran soriano).’
Sportsmail understands there has been no dialogue between tottenham and city over a possible change.
‘We can adapt but we will also think of ourselves,’ Guardiola added. ‘ We want to help the Premier League. this (delay) can happen because it will be an amazing stadium. sometimes there are delays.’
city confirmed yesterday that Kevin De Bruyne is likely to miss three months with a knee injury and Guardiola revealed the tear of lateral ligaments was because of fatigue.
De Bruyne was given three weeks off after the World cup but pulled up in training while on his own on Wednesday.
‘they’ve come back with a short recovery and we were demanding. human beings have a limit,’ Guardiola said.
‘My opinion is that we demanded a lot of the players. With more than 11 months playing and coming back immediately this can happen. I’m pretty sure this can influence it. If you’re fresh, with normal vacations, then that doesn’t happen.’
Guardiola ruled out a move for claudio Marchisio — the holding midfielder has terminated his contract at Juventus — and believes he has enough strength in depth.
‘hopefully in that time Kevin can do as best as possible to come back and help us again,’ he said. ‘It will be a big miss. Kevin was outstanding last season. We didn’t want it but we accept it, it’s part of the game.’