PEP IS TOLD IT’S TIME TO WIN SILVER
® MANCHESTER CITY chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has warned Pep Guardiola that lifting trophies is all that counts next season.
Guardiola had a difficult first campaign in England, with City failing to challenge for the title or win silverware – the first trophyless season of his career.
The pressure on the City boss to deliver next time around will be huge and Al-Mubarak admits he isn’t interested in finishing second or third.
He said: “There’s nothing that annoys me more than people either calling me or sending me a message congratulating me on third place.
“My answer was pretty standard to everyone, ‘Don’t congratulate me on getting third, there’s nothing to congratulate, only congratulate me if we win the league’.
“There’s nothing to celebrate. I know it requires a lot of hard work, particularly in this league, to be in the top four.
“But our ambition is to win the league and if not winning it, to go as close as physically possible to winning the league. This year, in that area, we didn’t do that.”
Al-Mubarak admits the club will embark on another massive spending spree to land some of the world’s biggest stars for Guardiola.
Bernardo Silva has been signed already from Monaco in a £43m deal.
Benfica’s Ederson will follow in a world record £34.9m transfer deal for a keeper, with Monaco left-back Benjamin Mendy also expected to arrive.
Al-Mubarak said: “Last year we brought in youth, talent, speed. It’s an indicator of how we are rebuilding this team.
“Leroy Sane, the right age, the right talent, one of the most exciting prospects in Europe, and he’s shown that on the pitch this year.
“John Stones, 22, is going to be one of the best central defenders in the world, I have no doubt about that.
“Gabriel Jesus, 19, one of the top future talents in the world. If you look at those three examples, that’s what we did last year and that’s what you should expect this year.”
Al-Mubarak also confirmed striker Sergio Aguero will not be leaving despite strong interest from Real Madrid, saying: “He is one of the best players in the world. He is an absolute must.”