Pep regrets star player derby absence

PEP GUARDIOLA says he wishes Manchester City could face Paul Pogba when the Premier League leaders bid to re-write the history books in their huge derby with Manchester United.

Pogba fanned the derby flames in a weekend interview in which he quipped that he hoped City suffer injuries this season only to then rule himself out of Sunday’s game by being sent off for a stamp on Hector Bellerin in United’s 3-1 win at Arsenal on Saturday.

“He said that?” said Guardiola when asked about Pogba’s comments.

“Hopefully we have no injuries and I wish that Paul could play against us. I like to face a team with their best players possible to see who we are able to beat.”

City have now earned nine league points this season by scoring in the last eight minutes of games, a sign not only of their persistence but also of how defensively teams are playing against them.

“I would prefer to win (games) earlier but the Premier League is the Premier League,” Guardiola said.

City’s last four games have all ended in dramatic, late victories, drawing comparisons with successful Manchester United teams of old and their habit of scoring in socalled ‘Fergie time’ – named after then-manager Alex Ferguson.

“I heard about the Fergie time,” said Guardiola. “I was not here in that period but of course you have to have that.

“At the end what we show in the last games is we never give up. I think what happened, the opponent doesn’t want to play.

“They just want to defend, waiting for a moment. I understand. Don’t misunderstand me. I am not judging but it is difficult.” – AFP