MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has warned his players not to use injuries and fatigue as an excuse as the English champions chase a historic quadruple of trophies this season.
City secured the first of a potential four-trophy haul by beating Chelsea on penalties on Sunday in the League Cup and entertain West Ham in the Premier League on Wednesday just a point adrift of leaders Liverpool.
Guardiola's men also face Swansea in the FA Cup quarter-finals and are well set for the last eight of the Champions League after winning 3-2 away to Schalke in the first leg of their last 16 tie.
However, injuries to Aymeric Laporte and Fernandinho blighted victory on Sunday with John Stones and Gabriel Jesus also unlikely to return before an international break in mid-March.
"I don't want to see excuses from my players about tiredness, fixtures, schedules, the number of games. That is nothing," said Guardiola on Tuesday (Feb 26).
"When you have the opportunity to fight until the end, to fight for the title, then the power, the energy that gives you that is higher than any excuses you find.
"We have to run and beat them (the opposition), then beat them again. In the last two months of the season, the mentality makes the difference.
"I don't care about the way we play. I want the smell in the locker room, I want to smell at the beginning of the game and during the game, that we can win.
"When one competition is over I want to see that we want to win this title. I want to see it on their faces they want to win the title and I hope that after I will be able to tell you I saw something special."
Fernandinho's absence was strongly felt when City lost to Crystal Palace and Leicester in December to cede Liverpool an advantage in the title race, while Laporte has made such a big impression in just over a year in England that the Frenchman was rewarded with a new contract last week.
"People say: Without this player, they are not the same. It doesn't matter," added Guardiola.
"We have a good squad, a good second team, and I want to see the desire that we want to win the title."
A run of three draws in four Premier League games for Liverpool has allowed the champions back into the race, the latest of which came in a 0-0 draw away to Manchester United in the hours before the League Cup final.
And Guardiola wants his side to continue applying pressure with Liverpool desperate to end a 29-year wait to win the title.
"When I've said that we focus on our game, that's because it's the truth, but of course we look at what they do, and when they don't win we are happy," he said.
"We have the difference of one point between us and we have 33 to play for so it's in our hands. It's in their hands but our hands too.
"The only thing we can do is put on pressure, to feel we are not to drop points, but to win. Every game is the same, when you are on top you can drop points but when you are behind, you cannot."
Guardiola trusts Man City to resolve FFP allegations (Reuters) - The Premier League said on Friday it had opened an investigation into alleged Financial Fair Play (FFP) breaches by champions Manchester City after UEFA had begun its own probe into the allegations.
Pep Guardiola trusts Manchester City to resolve Financial
Leroy Sane struck the winner as Manchester City beat Liverpool 2-1 in a gripping Premier League clash on Thursday, inflicting the first loss of the season on Juergen Klopp's side and cutting their
"The Europa League is the right place for Manchester United at the moment" - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer • Would Ole use the Europa League as something positive? United States Restricted
'Right place for us': The 'true reflection' of Manchester
A solid win for the Blues. Emerson - 6.5: Decent game, but had a hard time against Ryan Sessegnon. Ranieri's exit was the last nail in the coffin for Fulham.
Martial and Lingard both limped off during the 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday and are set to miss the FA Cup fifth round tie with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday and the Premier League clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford six days later. Editor's Picks. ESPN FC 100: The top players and managers in men
Manchester United's Martial, Lingard to miss Chelsea
Pogba spot kicks help United 'get away with it' LONDON • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted Manchester United "got away with it" after West Ham, 2-1 losers to a pair of Paul Pogba penalties, were on the end of a series of questionable officiating decisions.
Latest OLE GUNNAR SOLKSJAER | The Straits Times
He's great to watch, but he's not God: Pope sets fans straight on Lionel Messi For Barcelona fans, Lionel Messi is 'D10S', a combination of the Spanish word for "God" - "dios" - with the No 10 on his shirt.
Real Madrid end campaign with 12th league defeat who was given a rousing reception from supporters in what was believed to be his last game for the club. BALE LEFT ON BENCH Keylor played
La Liga: Real Madrid end campaign with 12th league defeat
ǁTwitter
Clock Repair Times Ticking Watch Repair Salt Lake City
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has aimed a cheeky dug at Liverpool. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will welcome their arch-rivals Liverpool to Old Trafford ahead of the high voltage Premier League clash at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Solskjaer aims veiled dig at Mourinho as he seeks to return
Spurs will miss Son: Pochettino - straitstimes.com
One year on from defeat to Real Madrid in the final, Jürgen Klopp tasted victory as Liverpool overcame Spurs in a scrappy Champions League final on Saturday. The game burst into life early on
Stadium - liverpoolfc.com
MANCHESTER, England -- Sergio Aguero may not be risked for Manchester City's midweek trip to Watford with Pep Guardiola desperate to avoid injuries ahead of a busy December schedule.
Justification in the air amid Man City's historic treble
Manchester City tear apart Liverpool's feeble defence to claim an emphatic victory over the 10-man visitors and move top of the Premier League. approach to the game, there must surely be an
Pep Guardiola wants perfect run-in as Manchester City close
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 12, 2019, with the headline 'United will attack PSG, vows Solskjaer'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
United will attack PSG, vows Solskjaer - theworldnews.net
0 comments:
Post a Comment