SO.. WITCH MAN CITY WILL TURN UP TODAY?

Guardiola’s inconsistent side could be carved up by the Blades for Halloween

Bramall Lane: 12.30pm PEP GUARDIOLA will pray his nightmares are behind him as he heads to Sheffield United on Halloween.

Guardiola has seen his Manchester City side win just two of their opening five league games thi s season to f ind themselves languishing in the bottom half of the table.

City are in 13th place – five points adrift of joint leaders Everton and Liverpool.

Worse sti l l , Guardiol a is battling a crippling injury list, and has been forced to play down speculation linking him with a stunning return to Barcelona , as he stalls over signing a new deal at the Etihad.

The City boss appears so flustered he cannot even remember the name of his Blades rival Chris Wilder – who the Spaniard referred to as “Bill Wilder” in a frightening faux pas.

In keeping with the Halloween theme, Guardiola hailed the remarkable “spirit” of a Blades team that took the top flight by storm last season after winning promotion from the Championship.

But the Spaniard can at least take some comfort fort from the fact no team has a better record on

October 31 than n

City, who have e won 10 of 13 matches played on Halloween in the Premier r

League era.

He said: “Sheffield eld

United are one of the strongest teams i n the P remi er L eagu e and t h eir position in the table (second bottom) is another example of how strange our world is right now.

“Their football is incredible, much better than their points right now. I am a big, big fan of Bill Wilder and what he has done with his team.

“They make some movements I have never seen before and he is an incredible innovator. The spirit, the way they defend each other… Sheffield away is one of the toughest games this season.” And Guardiola (with Wilder, above) insi sted he has no intention of considering a shock return to the Nou Camp. Barca presidential frontr frontrunner Victor Font adm admits he wants to b build a new dynasty – and i s eyeing Guardiola to mastermind it. But despite f failing to sign a new c contract at the Eti Etihad, Guardiola has dismissed the suggestion.

The City boss said: “I ’m incredibly happy here, delighted to be happy here, and hopefully I can do a good job here this season and stay longer.” Guardiola has revealed he rates Kyle Walker as one of the best signings he has ever made and insists he has never seen him play better.

The England international full-back, 30, racked up a century of appearances for Guardiola with an assured display against Marseille in the Champions League this week. And his 101st comes against the Blades, the club he supported as a boy and where he made his breakthrough 11 years ago.

“Ky l e was a n i n c re d i bl e signing for Man City and I want to say thanks to the club for bringing him h ere,” ad d ed Guardiola. “I have the feeling now that maybe this part of the season is the best Kyle we have ever seen, for many reasons.

“He’s one of our captains, he’s important in the locker room. In the last game against Marseille, he played a really good game and hopefully he can do it again.”

Walker (left) had a difficult time off the field during the earlier part of this year, but has channelled his energies into becoming one of the first names on Guardiola’s team sheet.

The defender has played more minutes than any other player at the club so far this season and at 30, his pace, versatility and resilience seem to be getting better not worse.