CRYSTAL PALACE v MAN CITY SPERONI’S A REALIST
GUARDIOLA WORRY
JULIAN SPERONI equalled Nigel Martyn’s record of 111 clean sheets for Crystal Palace when he shut out Leicester earlier this month.
And while it’s hard to see him moving out on his own today with on-fire Manchester City Palace’s opponents, the Argentinian (above) knows the law of averages means Pep Guardiola’s men have to fire a blank one day. Maybe.
Speroni said: “Records are not the kind of thing you think of when you first come to a football club and the fact that it happened, it makes me really proud, of course, it’s a great achievement.
“Another one today? Yeah, why not? We know it’s going to be tough, they have been playing really, really well and they have an amazing record.
“We can’t ignore what they are doing, they have been amazing since the beginning of the season.”
Palace were beaten 3-2 by Arsenal on Thursday but Speroni hopes they can take what was a better secondhalf performance, and better performances on the whole since Roy Hodgson took over, into today’s game.
He added: “The spirit of this team is really good, we keep going, we keep fighting, it doesn’t really matter if it’s the first minute or the 96th, we never give up, and that shows.” PEP GUARDIOLA has warned that the team spirit which has put Manchester City on course for the Quadruple will be tested to the limit next month.
City travel to Selhurst Park today as clear Premier League leaders – but they could face a gruelling schedule of eight games in the first 29 days of PEP GUARDIOLA is ready to help England’s bid for World Cup glory.
The Manchester City manager has told Gareth Southgate that his door is open if the Three Lions boss ever wants to ask about a Total Football philosophy that is threatening to smash every Premier League record.
Southgate is leaving no stone unturned as he looks to revolutionise the way his players approach the game – and has already called on legends such as Alan Shearer, Steven Gerrard and John Barnes, as well as England rugby union coach Eddie Jones.
Guardiola would be happy to join the FA’s brains trust. “Of course, I would be willing to help the FA,” said the City boss, who is now replicating the success he had at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
“When I was a young manager I travelled around the world to be with other managers so they could explain to me their secrets and what they think and believe.
“So of course, I will help – but at the end every coach has to do what they believe.
“But don’t follow me because I have success now – that is a big mistake.
Backbone
“When I was a young manager it was a gift to speak with managers who opened the doors to explain to me what they believed about the profession, about the locker rooms, about the tactics.
“Of course, I am able to speak with anyone from the FA.
“They don’t know it, but if I was able to speak with them, I would learn as well.
“When I talk to people I try to be smart to take something off them.
“That’s why I am here in England and it is why I went to Germany – to learn different perspectives and new ways.”
The Spain team that won the World Cup in 2010 had a Barcelona backbone built by Guardiola.
And current world champions Germany have a clutch of players who improved under the Catalan at Bayern.
Now Englishmen like Raheem Sterling, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Fabian Delph are reaping the rewards of working under Guardiola at the Etihad.
Yet 12 months ago, Guardiola’s methods were coming under scrutiny as City failed to keep pace with 2018. Guardiola’s men open the new year with a home game against Watford on Tuesday before entertaining Burnley in the third round of the FA Cup at the weekend.
Home and away games against Bristol City in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup are then sandwiched between Premier League games against Liverpool and Newcastle.
And City will have another FA Cup