Pep’s plan for a long glory hunt

MANCHESTER CITY manager Pep Guardiola wants to build a squad that can deliver long-term success.

After failing to win a trophy for the first time in his managerial career last season, the Catalan said: “I will try to remain as long as possible to help, to help City keep moving forward.

“I think the club has to work and listen to the manager in the right moment, but also take their own decisions in the future.

“Nobody knows what will happen. For all the managers in the world, it depends on the results.”

Guardiola has made an effort to significantly lower the average age of his squad, offloading a number of older players and recruiting youngsters.

Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy, Alexsandar Kolarov and Bacary Sagna – all in their 30s – have been replaced by the likes of Bernardo Silva, Benjamin Mendy, Kyle Walker, Danilo and Ederson.

He added: “We know the kind of energy the new players have to give us a really good chance to fight for the titles.

“All the players’ averages are so, so young. So for the next five, six or seven years they will be here.”