The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Records mean little in driven Guardiola plan
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has played down the importance of equalling a winning record when his side faces Celtic in the Champions League at Parkhead tonight.
City have won all 10 of the competitive matches they have played so far this season, six of which have been in the Premier League.
Victory against Brendan Rodgers’ side in their Group C encounter would draw them level with Tottenham’s record-setting 11 wins on the bounce from the start of the 196061 season.
Guardiola, who confirmed midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Fabian Delph and defender Vincent Kompany would be out, said: “Wins help to win more. The confidence is a real aspect to the way we play. But every game is hard. I am not concerned or focused on a little, little record. In the future an English team will win 12 or 13 games in a row, that is going to happen. What I want is to play well.
“I want to continue with what we have done in the last months, continue to do the things we have done really well and improve on the aspects we have to improve on to win the game. Football is a process and my happiness as coach is to see the team getting better. Maybe small steps, but getting better. That is what I want to see.”
City defender Aleksandar Kolarov expects to face a green and white charge at Parkhead.
The Serb watched Barcelona rip the Scottish champions apart in their opening Champions League match with a 7-0 drubbing.
Yet Kolarov believes that will not stop Brendan Rodgers’ team coming out
“Wins help to win more. The confidence is a real aspect to way we play”
full throttle. He said: “They are going to put 100% intensity into the game because they are at home and trying to win the game.
“I saw the highlights of the game against Barcelona and it was a strange match. Yes, they lost 7-0, but they missed a penalty at 1-0.
“We are expecting a very difficult game. Celtic is one of the biggest teams in the UK. They are playing at home with their amazing supporters so they have to play like that. “We are ready.” Guardiola’s methodical nature will ensure City are fully briefed on just where the chinks in the Celtic team are. But Kolarov needs no extra warnings about the former teammates he is set to come up against, with former City players Kolo Toure and Scott Sinclair now in the Hoops ranks and current City youngster Patrick Roberts halfway through an 18-month Parkhead loan.