Global Courant
MANCHESTER (VG) Pep Guardiola (52) is already shouting warnings about the injury situation and a tough match schedule. But in the middle of the tirade, characterized by seriousness focused on Wednesday’s cup match, he took the time for a sour joke.
COMMITTED: There was nothing to be said for Pep Guardiola’s empathy and passion when Manchester City faced Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
view morePublished: 24/09/2023 23:34
– If my back gets better, it might take a few minutes, says Manchester City manager.
Guardiola recently joked about his entry into the team when, after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest, he was asked about the League Cup match against Newcastle away at St. James’ Park.
Erling Braut Haaland’s boss smiled slightly after his own reaction. The journalists also grinned and laughed. But there was more seriousness behind it, which ended a long discussion about the match schedule and injuries.
– Those who have played a lot will not play much against Newcastle. Naturally. The League Cup is perfect if you have the entire team available at the start of the season. When you can use the breadth of the team. Those who don’t play regularly get their minutes.
– But if you have a lot of injuries…
The Spaniard left the penalty hanging a bit in the air. Kevin De Bruyne has been injured for a long time in the past.
In recent weeks, central defender John Stones and winger Bernardo Silva followed the Belgian into the treatment room.
Mateo Kovačić trained with the team on Monday for the first time in a long time, he says. Jack Grealish can finally be used after a short period of absence.
IMPORTANT BUT NOT AVAILABLE: Manchester City’s John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne, pictured here during training last season.
view moreGuardiola continues:
– I don’t waste one percent of my energy on the competition cup. Kyle Walker and Rúben Dias, they play 90 minutes for their national teams and for us. They are already exhausted. We can’t lose them.
– We play (against Newcastle) with people who need it. Perhaps someone from the academy, says Guardiola, who could give Norwegian U21 player Oscar Bobb new minutes.
Henry Winter just smiles when he hears Guardiola’s trick about not spending energy on the League Cup.
But he just keeps winning, The Times football writer tells VG.
He believes City – under Guardiola – have won the trophy four times in seven seasons.
– It is clear that there are new managers who really want to win. Ten Hag (at Manchester United last season) was worried about it last season and Jose Mourinho wanted it when he came to England. But actually it is very important.
– Because this is the first silverware you can win this season. And with a team as big as now, he can put a very good second division team on the field against Newcastle.
FOLLOWS ENGLISH FOOTBALL CLOSELY: Henry Winter in the major newspaper The Times.
view moreWinter believes that even if Kevin De Bruyne or Jack Grealish do not play, he believes Guardiola will bring in Phil Foden or new signing Jérémy Doku.
– He has such a good team and is such a brilliant manager. So I’m a bit skeptical when the managers say things like that at a press conference. He wants to win that battle. He will continue the flow they have (six wins in six league games).
– He will make City invincible. The team he fields in the league cup will be strong, he says.
– They’re already exhausted
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#Theyre #exhausted
