Pep: It could be won and lost on goal difference
Silva’s had dreaded vote of confidence at Everton!
PEP GUARDIOLA has predicted the Premier League title race will go down to the wire if Manchester City can survive a ‘terrible’ February. Guardiola takes his side to face Everton at Goodison Park tonight hoping to replace Liverpool at the top of the table on goal difference, just days after he felt City had been written off. The Spaniard believes Liverpool, who have faltered by drawing their last two games against Leicester and West Ham, were crowned champions too hastily in some quarters and that City are destined for more drama after winning the title on the last day in 2012 and 2014. ‘I’m pretty sure the winner will be decided in the last fixture or two,’ said Guardiola. ‘The Premier League could go to goal difference, I agree. But we are not going to tell the guys they have to win 5-0. The first message is to win the game and the second is, if you can score and avoid conceding, do it. ‘Three or four days ago, we were done. The champions were Liverpool. Now we could be leading. But still we are three points behind. I would prefer to be in the position of Liverpool. Everything changes quickly. Even I said seven points (gap) would be tough for the confidence. If we win (at Everton) we are top of the league. Who could think that? Not two months ago. ‘The lesson of that is never give up and focus on what you have to do. Forget about the rest. ‘When you speak about what they have to do, you forget about yourself. A huge mistake.’ Liverpool’s stumble has raised questions about their ability to handle the pressure of a title fight with City, following the club’s infamous collapse in 2014. Guardiola did not comment on the mentality of Jurgen Klopp’s squad, but backed his own to stay strong. ‘I trust my players,’ he added. ‘Under pressure, they react well. They accept the challenge.’ City face Chelsea in the league and Carabao Cup final this month, as well as playing in the FA Cup fifth round and against Schalke in the Champions League. Yet Guardiola believes it will be a huge lift for his players to emerge from February still in contention. ‘This month is terrible because every game is a final,’ he said. ‘But from my experience, when you arrive after this month in March, and you are in four competitions, it’s an extra plus. ‘You realise, wow, we can do something special.’
MARCO SILVA says Farhad Moshiri has given him reassurances in person that his position is not in peril and he is the man to lead Everton forward.
The Portuguese is under pressure following a dismal run of results that have seen Everton slip down the table and few give them any chance of arresting the slide tonight, when they host title favourites Manchester City at Goodison Park.
Moshiri, though, gave a statement through talkSPORT yesterday and the quotes attributed to the Iranian billionaire were positive. His message was that Silva is a ‘talented coach who is planning for the long term’ and it was important for him to ‘hold his nerve’. Other than speaking at the club’s AGM in January, Moshiri has kept a low profile this season.
He is, however, known for being ruthless with managers, sacking three in three years, and some will view his words sceptically.
Silva — whom former Everton manager Sam Allardyce claimed yesterday should be worried about his job — insists Moshiri has not given him cause for concern and he is planning ahead.
When asked whether he had spoken face-to-face with Moshiri, Silva said: ‘It’s normal. When we have the possibility to meet, we do; when not, we speak on the phone.’
Pressed on whether he had been given support, Silva added: ‘Yes.’ He continued: ‘ Feeling secure is something I have felt since the first day I arrived here.
‘When you are winning games in a row, normally what the people say about you is good. And when you are not doing what you would expect, it’s normal, this type of situation.’
What isn’t normal is the feeling around this game among Evertonians. Many would accept City winning if it meant Liverpool’s hopes of becoming Premier League champions were hindered, and not many of their fans hold out any hope for a win.
The idea, however, of taking pleasure in defeat is something alien to Silva and he has demanded the fans inside Goodison Park raise themselves to make the 90 minutes as uncomfortable as possible for Pep Guardiola’s team.
‘When you play against a strong side and you are not in a very good moment, the thing that can equalise the balance is our fans creating a strong atmosphere in our stadium,’ said Silva.
‘They can push our squad, even if they weren’t happy in the last match.
‘Of course, we will be stronger if they push them on. In these moments our players need more, when our squad needs more, we need the support to equalise the balance and put us in a condition to fight for a good result against a team like City.’