PEP’S KEEPING WINDOW SHUT
PEP GUARDIOLA is confident he has the squad to cope with the loss of Benjamin Mendy and said there was “no way” City will be buying in the January transfer window.
The loss of the France full-back (above) for 10-12 weeks, following knee cartilage surgery, looks likely to be for longer than had initially been hoped.
But ahead of today’s trip to West Ham, Guardiola said: “It is much better not to have to sign players in January. When we created the squad at the beginning of the season, it was not to go to the January window.
“I have a deep squad and I trust a lot in all the players. When there are some injuries, another one is going to play. If not, you have a few players in the academy that maybe are going to help us.
“But we are not going into the January market. No way.” City will be without Bernardo Silva (below) after the attacking midfielder picked up a knock on international duty with Portugal, but he hopes to be fit to play some part against Lyon on Tuesday.
In the meantime, Guardiola believes his side must be on top of their game against West Ham, if they are to reconnect with the red-hot form – scoring 15 goals in three matches – they hit before the international break.
“When the contenders are as good as they are here in England, of course things can happen,” he said. “And some games we are going to lose. With the amount of matches coming up, with a lot of competition, now comes the toughest period of the season.
“The players are not machines, even though they are good, and one game they are going to lose. “But I am proud because the best we have seen from Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea is this season, and still we are there (at the top).”
Asked whether he was aiming for back-to-back titles, Guardiola insisted it was too early to fix such targets. “To win the title? We are just two points in front of second and four points in front of third – it’s nothing.
“I don’t know how many points there are to play for, but the most satisfying thing for us is that after last season, when we got 100 points and got a lot of nice words said about us, we are still there.”
He has yet to lose to the Hammers in five meetings since taking over at City from current West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini.
Guardiola signed an extension to his deal with the club earlier this year taking him to 2021, but hinted he may stay beyond that.
“I’m delighted to be here, I have everything a manager needs, and it’s going well. Maybe I’ll stay longer,” he added.