YOU’VE DONE US A FAV OUR
Pep just loves to be top dog
PEP GUARDIOLA says he is comfortable with Manchester City’s ‘favourites’ tag.
The Spaniard says that after years of being top dog at Barcelona and Bayern Munich he can cope with the pressure and extra scrutiny that comes with being reigning champions.
Guardiola has the relaxed air of a man who knows that if his team perform to their capabilities, it doesn’t matter what their rivals do.
Last weekend’s impressive performance in the Community Shield against Chelsea convinced Guardiola that his players have the hunger needed to become the first team to win back-to-back Premier League titles since neighbours Manchester United in 2009.
“For nine years I’ve lived with that situation – it’s no problem,” said Guardiola before tomorrow’s trip to Arsenal.
“Perhaps (the only problem was) in the first year that I arrived and people in Barcelona didn’t like it that I was a manager.
“After that, we won the double or treble every season and were the favourites. So we are the favourites again.”
City have only bought one player – £60m record signing Riyad Mahrez – but because of their £420m investment in the previous four transfer windows, the squad is filled with young, gifted and improving players. Mahrez will not need any time to settle having been in the Premier League for four seasons with Leicester, playing a big part in their 2016 title success.
Defender Aymeric Laporte, bought in January for £57m, will be better for six months of adjusting to the English game.
Benjamin Mendy will be like a new signing after missing virtually all of last season through injury while the emergence of home-grown youngster Phil Foden gives City added creativity at the front end of the pitch.
John Stones, Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling should benefit from their positive World Cup experience with England while leading scorer Sergio Aguero could be even sharper after surgery to clear up a niggling knee injury. Crucially, the City players now know exactly what Guardiola demands of them on and off the pitch after two seasons in charge.
“They have shown me in the past two seasons – the last one especially – we can trust them, that we have a good squad,” he said. Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne are ready to start City’s title defence, despite returning to training from their post-World Cup breaks only five days ago.
Guardiola is impressed by their physical condition after three weeks’ holiday.
“Sterling needs only four or five days because his condition is easy,” the manager said.
“Kevin arrived in the perfect way too. He’s going to be a father for the second time so he must look after his wife.”
Tomorrow’s game pitches Guardiola against his old
La Liga rival Unai Emery, who will be in charge of the Gunners for the first time.
Emery never beat Guardiola in his Seville days but proved his pedigree with three Europa
League titles in a row.
Guardiola said: “He’s an excellent manager. It’s good for the Premier League he’s here.”