PEP’S TIRED OLD EXCUSE

I had to make do with Pelle’s players ..they were well past their prime

PEP GUARDIOLA claims he struggled in his first season at Manchester City because he was forced to play with so many of his predecessor’s squad. City exited the Champions League at the last-16 stage, finished third in the Premier League, 15 points behind champions Chelsea and failed to win the EFL Cup or FA Cup. Guardiola ended a season empty-handed for the first time in his glittering managerial career and admitted such a poor season would have seen him sacked by former clubs Barcelona and Bayern Munich. But ahead of his side’s return to preseason training next week, Guardiola has lifted the lid on last term’s struggles and vowed City will perform better with more of his own signings and having had a year to understand his philosophy. “Last season I played with eight or nine players in the Premier League who were bought by Manuel Pellegrini,” said Guardiola. “They’re good players, but you have to rejuvenate the team. “It was a team that was very successful, but it had outgrown itself. It was one of the oldest teams in the Premier League. “Now Txiki Begiristain, City’s sporting director, is trying to make the necessary changes to strengthen the team. So we rejuvenated it with Gabriel Jesus, Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane, and we’ll continue to do so. “I always wondered what would have happened if all year we’d had Vincent Kompany, Jesus and Gundogan fit. We wouldn’t have won the league, but we’d have fought much better for it. “Jesus came in January and made a great impact, but was injured for three months. With Kompany, we played seven games and won them all, so it’s very important to have him in defence.” Guardiola has refused to adapt the high-pressing, playing-the-ball-outfrom-the-back style that brought him such success at Barca and Bayern. “Everyone tells me – you must change and I say, ‘No, you have to change’,” Guardiola told L’esportiu. “I won’t change. The difference is the league here is more competitive.”

PLAYING FOR TIME Guardiola claims he needs new signings of his own to freshen up City and turn them into contenders