CITY Guardiola will stick to game plan and play HIS way...
PEP Guardiola has dismissed Gary Neville’s claim that it would ‘defy logic’ if City were to win the Premier League title playing the Catalan’s brand of football.
Sky Sports pundit Neville questioned Guardiola’s plan to overload his side with creative, attacking players.
The former United captain claimed title-winning teams needed to include physically imposing figures like Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic at Chelsea.
Guardiola fielded a front five of Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus against Crystal Palace last week – winning the game 5-0.
But Neville said on Monday Night Football: “Every single team that’s won the league, barring none, has had power and strength at the heart of them – that spine.
“I just wonder whether they can play that way.
“Can you play that way, with those players and win this league? That will be the real test.”
Guardiola responded: “The team is going to play the way I want to play. I am not going to dismiss it.
“I want to have high-pressing, control the second balls, make a good build up, play quick as possible – but in the end it depends on the quality of the players. And we are going to try to adapt the club for the long-term goal.
“We are going to buy the players to play in that way. That is what we are looking for.
“The other way, I don’t feel it. How can I convince my players to play the other way if I don’t feel it?
“You have to play the way you believe.
“The players know if you are a liar, if you are not honest with them. “Also I am a spectator. I am a fan. I’m not just a manager. I want to enjoy seeing the team play the way I want to play. “I deserve to enjoy my job, to have fun in my job. The only way is to play the way I want to play. It’s simple.” City have been left in Chelsea’s wake in Guardiola’s first season in charge, and are still not certain of Champions League qualification. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager admits his side face a challenge to catch up with Antonio Conte’s team. “They deserve to win the Premier League because they were better than everybody,” he said. “Tottenham were close, but Chelsea were the best team. “We have to improve a lot to be close to them.” Pep Guardiola