OPERATION Pep: I can be Mr Nice Guy now as City are so good
PEP GUARDIOLA reckons his Manchester City team are now so good that he can become Mr Nice Guy.
Guardiola is a notoriously hard taskmaster with his players, such is his obsession for perfection.
And this time last season he promised to crack the whip to make sure they didn’t take their eye off the ball in their bid to retain the title.
City’s players responded by winning a Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
And, after City’s pre-season tour of the Far East was concluded with a 3-1 victory over Yokohama F Marinos in Japan yesterday, Guardiola believes he has seen enough to know he can have total trust in the men when they cross the white line.
Guardiola said: “The players are hungry for success – definitely. I know them better, so I don’t have doubts about what they can do.
“I’m not talking about winning or losing. But here, for example, against a team second in the ( Japanese) table with incredible dynamism, our lack of physical condition was OK.
“We made mistakes, but that’s good in this period. We are going to solve it and I have no doubts that the team will be ready again to try it. And I will be nicer this year.”
Kevin De Bruyne opened pened the scoring, Raheem Sterling erling got one and Lucas Nmemecha was also on target et as
City overcame their heir spirited sister club.
Sterling was named man of the match, but De Bruyne (right) was the he real star of the show.
The Be l g i a n midfielder has said he e
“felt like a fan” last t season such were his problems with injury.
Guardiola believes he will he back to his best this season – and that the capture of £63million Rodri will l give his team a ruthless ss defensive presence ce midfield.
“Kevin had another r great game,” said the City boss. oss.
“It’s important to have ave his
in
qu quality and vision v to make th the last pass when whe the opponent defends def in a high line. Bu But Rodri was also incredible. incre
“We already alread knew it. But I can assure you we have h an incredible h holding midfielder for the next decade deca – or at leas least the years he will be here with w a contra contract.
“Be Bernardo Silva is back at his normal level, Sterling c ont inu ed and John
Stones and
Aymeric Laporte are back. These guys played incredibly well in the game.”
City still have Sergio
Aguero, Ederson, Nicolas Otamendi, Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez to return after spending the summer playing for their countries.
None of them will be available to face Liverpool in the Community Shield a week today.