YOU CAN ABOUT IT Pep won’t stay for ever
TOBY BOSSING IT
STEVE MILLAR forget that and they create something special at his club. When he arrived at the Gunners it wasn’t a special team.
“But now after 20 years you know exactly what the identity of this club is – and that is something much more important than winning titles.
“I like to move. To live and see new things. Everyone is different. But 20 years? No.”
Despite that, Guardiola is chuffed that City fans have come up with a clever terrace song based on the classic “Glad All Over” hit.
It contains the line: “I’m feeling, Guardiola” – but he knows that will hit a bum note if he doesn’t succeed.
Guardiola added: “The people say sweet things about the managers. It is what it is. It is football. If we don’t win the fan can express what he wants.
“So now I have a song here in Manchester City but if you don’t win, no song any more. It is what it is in football. You have to win. You have to make a good result.
“The fans can express what they think. The fans pay for their ticket, go to a show and if they don’t like it or they are not happy with what happens, they can express their feelings. “You have to accept that. If you cannot accept that then you move on. Step back and go to another issue.” Guardiola will welcome Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez to The Etihad, a player who he groomed for stardom at Barcelona.
He is just hoping that the Chilean he describes as a “fighter” doesn’t take centre stage and provide a knockout blow to his side. He said: “It is normal when you play with Lionel Messi that people think that he is not at his level. The highlight is always on Leo. But Alexis helped us a lot. “I think the position that he is in now, as a striker, is perfect for him. It suits him perfectly. In Barcelona, maybe I didn’t help him too much as I like the wingers wide. He can do that but he plays more between the lines closer to the goal.
“He is a player who can play in several positions, left, right, centre. He is a fighter with character and spirit. And he is a winner. He is a class, class player who I think is playing really well.”
Guardiola, meanwhile, will assess the future of midfielder Fabian Delph at the end of an injury-hampered season.
Delph, who arrived at The Etihad 18 months ago for £8million, is on the road to recovery and Guardiola is hoping he can get back to first-team action in the next few weeks.
But when the season is over, the City boss will sit down with the England international and discuss where they both go from here.
Guardiola said: “When he arrived he never had injuries. Every time now it is muscular problems but he has done well. Now is the end of his rehabilitation. What we are looking for is for him to be fit to help us. We cannot talk about the future of the players when they are not on the pitch.
“It is for him to be fit to see his level. Then at the end of the season we are going to decide what is best for the club, for him, for everybody.” football-minded and knows exactly what he wants.” What he will want today is three points against bad travellers Burnley.
Sean Dyche’s side have only managed a single point on the road so far this season – a goalless draw at Old Trafford.
But Alderweireld said: “They have good organisation so we’ll have to try to break them down.
“The quality of the ball has to be perfect to create chances.”