LONDON • Pep Guardiola feels Manchester City are playing "much, much better" than last year's record-breaking campaign and his players should not be regarded as "absolute losers" even if Liverpool pip them to the Premier League title.
The Spaniard told reporters: "Everybody knows exactly what we have to do, everybody helps each other. And, when this happens, we can compete and, if we lose, we lose, but no regrets.
"I know in our society, just the first one has the credit. But it is impossible to feel that about my players, it's impossible."
City smashed a host of marks on their way to becoming champions last term, including amassing 100 points and scoring 106 goals.
But, despite failing to replicate that level of dominance this season, they have overturned a seven-point deficit in recent months to wrestle top spot from Liverpool by one point, with nine league games left.
And Guardiola felt it was all the more remarkable as City, who remain the only English team capable of an unprecedented quadruple, have had to deal with a far busier fixture schedule than their title rivals.
"Of course we want to win the Premier League, I feel the players show me every single day they want to win it," he said.
"But we have played nine or 10 games more than Liverpool (who have exited both domestic Cups).
"It's a lot of minutes in our legs in all competitions. In spite of that, we are still there and that's why I'm happy. I would prefer it to be like last season's position to be 12 points in front, but that was an exceptional situation."
Separately, City is considering adding a team in India to its global portfolio of clubs, chief executive officer Ferran Soriano said on Monday.
A fortnight ago, City Football Group (CFG), bankrolled by Sheikh Mansour of the Abu Dhabi royal family, announced it had purchased a stake in Chinese third-tier club Sichuan Jiuniu.
That took the number of clubs under the CFG banner to seven, with the group also owning or having stakes in New York City, Melbourne City, Japan's Yokohama F Marinos, Uruguayan club Atletico Torque and LaLiga side Girona.
Soriano said: "We have some interest in some markets and countries where there is a genuine football passion and opportunities, like China, but also India.
"So there might be other opportunities in Asia. With all these developments, we have to be patient. We've been looking at India for nearly two years now. I'd say this year we'll end up doing an investment in India."
CFG was established as an umbrella organisation in 2013 when City's initial sister club was launched in New York and Soriano added there was still room for significant investment.
"As we see it now, there is a natural pace of growth that we will follow that takes us to more than seven teams, but not 100 teams," the Spaniard said. "I cannot see 10 years ahead, but the group might have two or three teams more.
"Is this going to change in five years and we're going to have more? Maybe, (but) I don't know that. But, to complete the vision that we had six years ago, we will have maybe two or three clubs more."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
Reds fans upbeat, City faithful rejoice. Before kick-off, the Reds fans knew everything depended on Manchester City's result at Brighton. No wonder a few had one eye on the large LED screens
Newspost
Football: West Ham's Michail Antonio scores winner as Spurs suffers first loss at new stadium Related Story Football: Southampton stay up after thrilling 3-3 draw with Bournemouth
Tottenham suffer first loss at new stadium as Michail Antonio
fifa-livescores.com/news/107756/ALL/Tottenham-suffer-first-loss-at-new-stadium-as-Michail-Antonio-hits-winner-for-West-Ham
Tottenham suffer first loss at new stadium as Michail Antonio hits winner for West Ham, West Ham became the first opposition team to win at Tottenham's new stadium after a Michail Antonio goal gave them a 1-0 victory. , West Ham became the first opposition team to win at Tottenham's new stadium after a Michail Antonio goal gave them a 1-0 victory.
Tottenham 0-1 West Ham: Spurs lose for first time in their
Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona, says Rakitic. Thomas ALLNUTT. AFP April 30, 2019, 5:01 PM GMT. Ivan Rakitic says Messi is proving an inspiration for Barcelona ahead of Liverpool semi-final
Messi's Motivation Spurs On Barcelona, Says Rakitic
newsblenda.com/post/football/messis-motivation-spurs-on-barcelona-says-rakitic.html
Rakitic believes Barcelona's home advantage is significant. "I understand he wanted to take a bit of pressure off his players, he wants them to see it as another stadium. All I can say is playing at Camp Nou is a different thing, something special and you have to respect that." Valverde added: "Our fans can be decisive.
Messi's motivation spurs on Barcelona, says Rakitic
With the Asian Cup featuring a record 24 teams, the 36-game group stage finished with holders Australia facing a last-16 clash with Uzbekistan, while Qatar will play Iraq and Japan face the Saudis. Shiotani's rocket ensured Japan finished with a perfect nine points at the top of Group F as they beat Uzbekistan 2-1, despite changing 10 players
2019 Asian Cup: Tsukasa Shiotani fires Japan past Uzbeks
A fired-up Arsenal needed just 15 minutes to take the lead. Emery urges Suarez to take his chance as Arsenal chase top four Emery. Gunners are the only club in English football not to keep
Gunners march on but Emery seeks stronger starts | Daily Mail
Liverpool will spend Christmas on top of the Premier League after goals from Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk earned them a 2-0 win at Wolves on Friday, opening up a four-point lead over second
Liverpool seal Christmas top spot as Salah and Van Dijk sink
via @YouTube"
Destiny Beckons (1) (on hold at the moment) - Wattpad
Manchester's homeless in good Kompany - straitstimes.com
Football. Home football Makeshift Barca side beaten at Celta and lose Dembele to injury Vigo after making 11 changes but forward Ousmane Dembele suffered an injury setback ahead of Tuesday
Makeshift Barca side beaten at Celta and lose Dembele to
Solskjaer Warns United Players Over Complacency over from Jose Mourinho on December 19 and will look to keep that sequence going at Old Trafford on Saturday. not be complacent and take
Solskjaer warns Man Utd players over complacency
Football: Ihsan Fandi, the winner of the match, after Singapore for less than 22 years defeated Thais with 1-0 to capture the Merlin Cup, football news and best stories. singapore June 9, 2019 singapore
Singapore Football on Flipboard | Yoshida, Singapore, Solomon
Pope Francis is known to be a football fan, and he is also a club member of Buenos Aires side San Lorenzo. but he's not God' - Pope sets fans straight on Messi. By. He's great to
'He's great to watch, but he's not God' - Pope sets fans
0 comments:
Post a Comment