LONDON • Manchester City have just won the League Cup last Sunday, but manager Pep Guardiola believes there is no time to rest as he urged his team to carry on the momentum in their bid to retain their Premier League title this season.
City will host West Ham in the league today and, when asked yesterday if his players were fatigued following the penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea, the Spaniard said: "It helps. The guys train good when you win the second title of the season (after their Community Shield win).
"The last few days, the conditions have improved, but the reality is we don't have much time to think about what has happened.
"After the West Ham game, we have three days and then Bournemouth, but we are going to pick a strong side in order to try and win the game."
While it is Guardiola's ambition to win every competition his team are contesting, he will likely be cautious when former City boss Manuel Pellegrini's Hammers visit the Etihad.
Midfielder Fernandinho (groin) and central defender Aymeric Laporte (hamstring) picked up injuries at Wembley that would sideline them for several weeks.
Fernandinho, in particular, has become one of Guardiola's most dependable lieutenants.
Since his arrival in 2013, City have won more than 70 per cent of the games in which he has played, a percentage that drops below 60 in his absence.
Most recently, when City suffered shock consecutive defeats by Crystal Palace and Leicester, the 33-year-old was absent.
Ilkay Gundogan and Fabian Delph are logical replacements in the defensive midfield role, but they cannot match Fernandinho's poise and tackling ability.
The Brazilian's all-round excellence even saw him selected at centre-half for the recent home win over Arsenal, and the loss of Laporte adds to the manager's concerns in that department.
Veteran Vincent Kompany has struggled for fitness and form for much of the season although John Stones is close to returning from his injury layoff.
Guardiola knows that if City are to win the Premier League again this term, and also the FA Cup and the Champions League, Fernandinho will be a crucial factor.
City, on 65 points, go into today's match a point behind leaders Liverpool, who have drawn three of their last four league matches.
"Still, they are leading," Guardiola said, shrugging off suggestions that Jurgen Klopp's men are struggling.
"There are still a lot of games to play and they are leading by one point. The lead is shorter than I expected a few weeks ago, but they are still leading.
"I didn't watch the Liverpool game against Manchester United (0-0 draw) so I cannot give you an opinion.
"The difference is one point with 33 points to play. It's in Liverpool's hands, but it's in ours too, we have to put on pressure. We fight until the end for the title."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
MAN CITY V WEST HAM
Singtel TV Ch105 & StarHub Ch230, tomorrow, 3.50am
Apr 18, 2019 · The Champions League final this year will be the eighth in a row without Pep Guardiola, which perhaps should not feel as extraordinary as it does. This is, after all, knockout competition; odd
Guardiola: De Bruyne nearing Man City return
Almoez Ali scored a spectacular overhead kick for a record ninth goal of the tournament to set Qatar on their way to a first Asian Cup triumph with a stunning 3-1 win over four-times champions
Ali on target as Qatar stun Japan to win first Asian Cup
Playing hard to get is based on understanding of human nature. It is not about your colleagues, family or person you are interested in, it is about what YOU are doing. And this is the good news because you can change what you are doing and get different results.
15 Subtle Signs a Girl is Playing Hard to Get | Best Life
Guardiola praised his side's battling qualities after the game, but also admitted that the absence of VAR cameras was a factor in Man City's goals. As quoted by The Sun, the City boss said: "If it was not a penalty and if our third goal was offside, then I am sorry. "But you have to ask the authorities why VAR is not here today.
sport news 'I am so sorry': Pep Guardiola apologises to
Manchester City celebrated their domestic treble with an open-top bus parade on Monday, drawing an estimated 100,000 fans to the streets of the city centre. Pep Guardiola's City side became the
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said he must "respect Eden Hazard's decision" if the forward wants to leave Stamford Bridge this summer. Reports on Monday suggested Real Madrid are eager to secure
Eden Hazard can leave Chelsea if he wants, says manager
Football News: Jurgen Klopp laughed off suggestions he is an unlucky manager as he looks to halt an unfortunate run of ending up on the losing side in his last six f 'World record holder at
'World record holder at winning semi-finals' - Klopp laughs
Ali on target as Qatar stun Japan to win first Asian Cup By Nick Mulvenney Soccer Football - AFC Asian Cup - Final - Japan v Qatar - Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - February 1, 2019 Qatars Akram Afif celebrates scoring their third goal with Assim Madebo and team mates
Qatar stun Japan with 3-1 win to be crowned Asian Cup
Football. Crowds flock to Argentine village to pay tribute to footballer Sala. "We all carry Emi in our hearts," said Mayor Julio Muller in an emotional tribute. Sala had played for Nantes
Crowds flock to Argentine village to pay tribute to
yankeesunscripted.com/2019/02/18/crowds-flock-to-argentine-village-to-pay-tribute-to.html
Sala was the best-known figure from Progreso, a town of several thousand inhabitants in Argentina's Santa Fe province, and was adored by many. Sala's father, Horacio, was devastated by his son's death, family members said, and refused for days to leave his home. This was to enable friends and family to pay their last respects.
Klopp's Liverpool can be the new 'Invincibles', says Arsenal boss Emery December 27, 2018 by Football Paradise Staff Reporter 0 Arsenal head coach Unai Emery believes Liverpool can match Arsene Wenger's 'Invincibles' and go through the Premier League season unbeaten.
Unai Emery: Liverpool can match Arsenal's Invincibles - Sportstar
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 23, 2019, with the headline 'Fit-again Kane ready to make 'massive impact''. Print Edition | Subscribe.
Fit-again Kane ready to make 'massive impact'
The Times says that English football's experiment with VAR "descended into chaos" during the Spurs-Rochdale clash. if you can't explain a new law or procedure in a sentence, or quicker
Mic up Premier League referees - f*ck the swearing - Football365
0 comments:
Post a Comment