PEP: WE’RE READY FOR UNITED
BLUES BEGINNING TO FIND THEIR TITLE RHYTHM
CITY will head into the derby in their best rhythm of the season, according to Pep Guardiola.
The Blues, like neighbours United who they meet at Old Trafford on Saturday, have had a difficult start to the campaign with injuries and Covid adding to the problems for a depleted squad that barely had a break between seasons.
But with more players returning to full fitness in recent weeks, City have shown more evidence of the side that won back-to-back Premier League titles in 2018 and 2019.
Wins over Burnley and Fulham have lifted Guardiola’s team up the table - a point behind United ahead of the first derby of the season and just a handful of points off the top with a game in hand. And with four successive clean sheets in all competitions and top spot secured in their Champions League group, the manager can choose to play whoever he likes on Wednesday against Marseille as they fix their sights on mounting a title challenge.
“We are in a good moment right now,” Guardiola said after seeing two league wins in a row for the first time in this campaign.
“Four games, four clean sheets, a lot of chances created but I think we can be better.
“We are better than one month ago but that is normal. Without preparation, without time, it’s normal what happened. What’s important is that we are not far away from the top of the league and already qualified for the next round [of the Champions League]. This is important.
“Now we want to continue being g there.”
A major positive for Guardiola has been the return to form of John Stones.
The 26-year-old struggled with injuries and personal issues over the last few years to such an extent that he wasn’t certain of a place in the squad this season. However, after fighting to stay at the club, he has been reinvigorated by the competition and has started three of the four most recent games.
Aymeric Laporte, City’s best defender i in the 2018/19 season, has not played s since the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham last month and Guardiola has reiterated that his backline needs to avoid the kind of mistakes that have cost them over the last 18 months if they are to keep their place in the team.
“The last game with Ruben and
Eric [Garcia] they were brilliant, so important,” said the manager. “They don’t make mistakes.
“The games against Leicester especially and Liverpool and Tottenham, we make mistakes.
“The central defenders cannot do it. In these last three or four games we were so solid. We cannot give them [mistakes].
“On Saturday, Benji [Mendy] and Joao [Cancelo] didn’t make obvious mistakes - this is a step to be solid as a team.
“We can make a lot of effort, expend energy to try to play and be positive in football.
“The opponents sometimes wait for a mistake to punish us, so we have to avoid it. If they want to beat us, they have to do something.
“In the last three or four games we were much better in this department.”