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Tag: Pep Guardiola

  • Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says champions are ‘legends’

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said his side were “legends” after they secured their fourth Premier League title in five seasons.

    City won the league by a point over challengers Liverpool with a stunning 3-2 comeback win against Aston Villa on the final day at Etihad Stadium.

    It is Guardiola’s 11th trophy in six years since coming to England.

    “We are legends. We will be remembered. This group of players are absolutely eternal in this club,” said Guardiola.

    “What we achieved, it is so difficult to do it. Sir Alex Ferguson with Manchester United has done it years ago – two or three times – now I realise again the magnitude of doing this. Now we are part of this.”

    City were 2-0 down to Villa with 15 minutes left before substitute Ilkay Gundogan scored twice, either side of midfielder Rodri’s goal, in a sensational five-minute comeback.

    Had they not won, Liverpool would have been champions.

    “The last game is always special – a lot of emotion,” Guardiola said. “Aston Villa gave everything but the first goal changed everything. We had to handle it.

    “When you win the Premier League in this country four times in five seasons, it is because these guys are so, so special.

    “Winning at home in front of our people is the best. The moment we equalised, we had the feeling we had the chance to score the third.

    “It was the best atmosphere I have ever lived since I am here. Hopefully tomorrow we can celebrate together in Manchester’s streets with our cigars and beers. I will bring my cigars, don’t worry.”

    Liverpool won 3-1 at home to Wolves but could do nothing to stop Manchester City defending their title.

    The top two sides lost just five games between them in the league all season.

    “The magnitude of the achievement is related to the magnitude of our rival and I have never seen a team like Liverpool in my life,” Guardiola added.

    “Congratulations to Liverpool – they have made us better and better each week.”

    Asked whether he planned to stay beyond his current contract, which expires at the end of next season, he added: “I don’t have the energy or desire to think about next season now.

    “Every season is more difficult. I would not betray the club – they give me probably the most incredible moments in my life but I have to feel it, the players have to feel it and the club has to feel it.

    “Now it is time to celebrate. We are champions again.”

    Forward Jack Grealish joined City for a British record £100m in August from Aston Villa and he said he was “nearly crying” when he finally got his hands on the Premier League trophy.

    It was the first time in 17 years that City had come from 2-0 down in a league game to win.

    “I’ve had a few moments in my life and in football but this is certainly right up there. I’ve come here to win trophies and to do it is unbelievable,” Grealish told BBC Radio 5 Live.

    “Truthfully I didn’t think we were going to win, I just didn’t. Sometimes you have those bad feelings in your head and I just didn’t think we were going to do it.”

    Forward Raheem Sterling, who spent three years at Liverpool, said Jurgen Klopp’s team had “pushed” City to achieve more success.

    “Each year we come in and we know how difficult it will be with the teams we have,” he said.

    “Liverpool are a great opponent and every year they push us to the wire and this is why we achieve stuff like this.”

    Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who was named Premier League player of the year earlier this week, said his side fought until the end because they had nothing to lose.

    “You just go for it – you’re losing anyway. You want to change the situation and that’s what we did,” he added.

    ‘Proud to bring this title to Ukraine’

    Oleksandr Zinchenko
    Oleksandr Zinchenko was in tears at full-time as he wore the Ukrainian flag across his shoulders

    Ukrainian international Oleksandr Zinchenko came on at half-time for Manchester City and made an impact when he set-up the second goal for Rodri.

    He celebrated on the pitch afterwards with a Ukrainian flag draped across his shoulders, posing for photos, before wrapping it around the trophy.

    “[These are] unforgettable emotions for me – for all Ukrainians who at the moment are starving, and surviving in my country because of Russian aggression,” he said.

    “I am so proud to be Ukrainian and to bring this title to Ukraine, for all Ukrainian people, because they deserve it.

    “It means everything for me – I would die for these people and their support. What people gave me and what they have done for me during this period – the toughest period of my life – I am so appreciative and I will never forget this, never in my life.”

    ‘You won’t get many better seasons’

    Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said it would have been a “travesty” if City had missed out on a trophy this season, with Liverpool having picked up the two domestic cups as well as setting up a Champions League final against Real Madrid.

    Former England striker Alan Shearer added: “What a team, what a season and what a standard of football we’ve witnessed.

    “It’s just unbelievable what Pep Guardiola’s got at Manchester City and what Jurgen Klopp has at Liverpool. It was a brilliant afternoon for the neutral.

    “I was nervous and I don’t really care who wins it – so god knows what those supporters were going through, as that was one tense afternoon. Incredible.”

    Liverpool boss Klopp said it was a “joy” to work with his players each week, but they needed “a bit more consistency in the first half of the season” to beat City to the title.

    However, he described their achievements this season as “insane” and said they had pushed “the best team in the world” to the final day.

    “[Finishing second] is the story of my life,” he said. “I’m still record-holder for not getting promoted in Germany with the highest points tally. You need to get more points than every other team, but we didn’t do that.

    “You can’t do more than give your absolute best and that’s what the boys did again. We chased the best team in the world to the wire. That’s absolutely special. We’ll build a team again and go again.

    “These boys played an insane season. This is not the end, just a result of the season.”

    Source: BBC

  • De Bruyne scores four to send Man City clear

    Kevin de Bruyne’s stunning four-goal haul helped Manchester City thump Wolves and restored their three-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

    Pep Guardiola’s side now need only four points from their final two fixtures to ensure they will finish above Liverpool and win their fourth title in five seasons.

    De Bruyne has played a central role in all of those previous triumphs but this was an individual display that must rank among the finest of his stellar collection in a City shirt.

    The Belgian started the move that led to his side’s opener, and finished it too, running on to Bernardo Silva’s pass to slot home.

    Wolves did not take long to respond, with a rapid counter-attack ending when Pedro Neto found Leander Dendoncker in space on the edge of the box to fire past Ederson.

    This was De Bruyne’s stage, however, and he quickly put his side back in front. Again, he played a part in the build-up too, and was in the right place to smash in the rebound after Jose Sa beat Raheem Sterling to his pass.

    His third goal – again with his so-called weaker left foot – was the pick of the bunch, and saw him drive towards the edge of the area and curl into the bottom corner.

    De Bruyne’s hat-trick was his first for City and at 24 minutes was the third-quickest in Premier League history.

    He celebrated in style by copying the meditation celebration of his soon-to-be team-mate Erling Haaland, who City reached an agreement to sign this week, but he was not finished yet.

    City came out for the second half looking for more goals to improve their goal difference, which was already three better than Liverpool’s before kick-off.

    Raheem Sterling thought he had extended their lead when he ran clear and beat Sa but an offside flag cut short his celebrations.

    It was left to De Bruyne to make it 4-1, typically making no mistake when a Phil Foden cross was deflected into his path and finding the bottom corner with his first right-footed effort of the night.

    More chances followed, with Foden hitting the post and Sterling missing an easy chance but eventually someone else did get in on the act, with Sterling tapping into an empty net after Sa denied Joao Cancelo.

    This was still the De Bruyne show, however. City are not over the line yet, and their next test is an awkward trip to West Ham on Sunday, but on this evidence they will take some stopping.

    Source: BBC

  • Guardiola sets Premier League record with 111th Man City win

    Pep Guardiola has outstripped all of his peers past and present in the Premier League after racking up his latest victory at the helm of Manchester City.

    With City in a festive mood following Monday’s decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn the club’s suspension from the Champions League, Wednesday saw Bournemouth visiting the Etihad Stadium for the latest round of league fixtures.

    Pep took the opportunity to rotate his team, resting the likes of Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez, but it made little difference to the overall result as City ran out 2-1 winners.

    David Silva and Gabriel Jesus both netted in the first half, meaning David Brooks’ late strike was little more than consolation for the Cherries, who find themselves in serious danger of going down to the Championship.

    Not only was it City’s third consecutive Premier League victory, but it also brought up Pep’s 150th match in the English top flight, a run in which he has surpassed all previous managers in terms of success.

    Wednesday’s clash was his 111th win on the bench, marking an outstanding strike-rate of almost 64 per cent.

    Source: goal.com

  • Pep Guardiola end Ronaldo and Messi debate

    Pep guardiola is a famous and successful football manager ,he his respected among football managers ,he has won lot of trophies in his Carrier,he his the current coach of man chester city ,he has won two premier league title for man chester city and he is at the second spot in the premier league table this season , I post an article some days ago about Bruno Fernandes claiming that his international team mate Christian ronaldo is the best in the world ,some people accepted the fact but some did not , however this is what Pep Guardiola says about the two player.

    Pep Gaurdiola says that there is no dabate when it comes to who his better between christian Ronaldo and leo Messi ,he also added that Christian ronaldo has a long way to go to match leo messi

    Leo messi

    Christian ronaldo

    what is your opinion? Do you accept that Christian ronaldo still has a long way to go to match Leo Messi , please click on the like button, share and follow up for sport update thanks .

    Source: opera.com

  • Guardiola says Man City are not ready for punishing Premier League return

    Pep Guardiola fears his Manchester City players are not ready for the gruelling demands of the Premier League restart.

    Guardiola’s reigning champions will host Arsenal on Wednesday in the second game of the Premier League’s return to action following the coronavirus hiatus.

    City play again on Monday when Burnley come to the Etihad Stadium and the pace does not drop until the planned end of the season in late July.

    With Premier League chiefs determined to play the remaining 92 matches in less than six weeks and teams given only a short time to prepare, City manager Guardiola is concerned that his stars are not fully fit for such a hectic schedule.

    “We are ready to play one game, but three days after another and four days after another, we are not ready,” Guardiola told reporters in a video press conference on Tuesday.

    “We have to rotate and use all the players. You can play a game after three weeks on holiday but we spent two weeks on the sofa doing nothing much. That is why the players are not fully fit.

    “The way we are right now, I think other clubs and teams as well, if you ask me how the team is, I don’t know.”

    Guardiola said the game against Arsenal would show him what level of fitness his players had.

    “What we are worried about over the three weeks is the lack of preparation, not like in Germany or Spain, where they worked five or six weeks,” he said. “We know it is not enough but it is what it is.”

    – ‘Difficult time’ –

    Since the Premier League went into lockdown in March, Guardiola’s mother Dolors Sala Carrio has died, aged 82, after contracting the coronavirus.

    “All the people who lost family or friends, it’s a difficult time, but we have family to stay strong,” he said.

    While the French and Dutch top-flight seasons were cancelled because of the pandemic, football has returned in Germany, Spain and Italy.

    Now it is the Premier League’s turn to experience life during the virus, with matches played behind closed doors and twice-weekly testing for players among other new rules and regulations.

    Guardiola did not sound especially enthusiastic about the Premier League’s decision to return, but he acknowledged the need to minimise the financial fallout from the pandemic.

    “That is why we have to finish the season. We have to limit the economic damage to the clubs,” he said.

    “It is what it is. Everyone suffered during this situation, personally and economically, and we have to adapt.

    “The players are human. The health of the people is important but at the end, the Premier League, like in Spain, decided we have to play and we are going to play. ”

    City, who resume 25 points behind leaders Liverpool, will welcome back Guardiola’s former assistant Mikel Arteta for the first time since he took charge of Arsenal in December.

    “We are delighted he will come back, especially if he is happy there. We sent a message about an hour and a half ago,” Guardiola said.

    “It was about the wine we are going to drink after the game if social distance allows.”

    Source: france24.com

  • Medical staff are the ‘special ones’ – Guardiola

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes the protocols he and his players must follow for football to return are a small sacrifice compared to those risking their lives on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis.

    Guardiola’s mother died at the age of 82 in April after contracting COVID-19.

    “We follow the rules, the protocol. We have to. That’s the most important thing. We don’t do anything special,” Guardiola told the City website.

    “The special ones are the doctors, nurses, scientists, cleaners – they put their own lives at risk to save ours.

    “When it’s a special situation around the world, you have to adapt.”

    Premier League players returned to training last week, whilst maintaining social distancing guidelines.

    The UK government has now given the green light for contact training to resume, with clubs set to vote on the protocols on Wednesday.

    Should the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League all be completed, City could face 17 games in little over two months once the action gets underway.

    But Guardiola is pleased with the fitness of his players given they have not played competitively since March 8.

    “I think they were looking forward to coming back and to train again and do what they like,” he added. “They came back perfectly.”

    Even when football does return in England, matches are set to be behind closed doors for the forseeable future.

    Fears have been raised over the possibility that fans could congregate around stadiums, but there has been little evidence of such problems in Germany since the return of the Bundesliga.

    And Guardiola encouraged fans to continue adhering to the health and safety guidelines.

    “We want to come back but now the priority is other things. It’s still stay safe, be careful and when everything is possible we will come back,” he said.

    “The most important thing is to follow the instructions. If they say use a mask, stay at home, social distance, we have to do it. Because there are many, many people in the NHS (National Health Service) around the world who put their own lives at risk to save ours.

    “It’s incredible what they have done, and we have to follow them. Now, we cannot do anything wrong.”

    Source: france24.com

  • Pep Guardiola’s mother dies after contracting coronavirus

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s mother, Dolors Sala Carrio, has died aged 82 in Barcelona after contracting coronavirus.

    “Everyone associated with the club sends their most heartfelt sympathy at this most distressing time to Pep, his family and all their friends,” said Manchester City on social media.

    Monday’s increase of 637 coronavirus deaths means 13,055 have died in Spain.

    Last month, Guardiola donated 1m euros (£920,000) to help fight the outbreak.

    The money will be used to purchase medical equipment and protective material for staff involved in treating those admitted to hospital.

    Barcelona is in Catalonia, which is one of the areas in Spain with the most concentrated number of cases.

    Manchester United posted on social media to say the club was “saddened to hear this terrible news”, adding: “We send our heartfelt condolences to Pep and his family.”

    Spaniard Guardiola, 49, has been in charge of Manchester City since July 2016 after spells as manager of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola donates 1m euros to fight virus

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has donated 1m euros (£920,000) to fight the coronavirus outbreak in Spain.

    Guardiola, who is at his home in Barcelona, has been working with his lawyers over the past few days to work out the best way of using the money.

    It will go to a campaign being promoted by the Medical College of Barcelona and the Angel Soler Daniel Foundation.

    Spain is one of the worst affected countries in Europe.

    Official figures on Tuesday showed that 2,696 people had died in the country and close to 40,000 are infected.

    The money will be used to help purchase medical equipment and protective material for the hospital staff involved in treating those admitted to hospital.

    The Catalan region is one of the areas in Spain which has the most concentrated number of cases.

    Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have both reportedly donated 1m euros to coronavirus campaigns this week.

    Mundo Deportivo reported that Barcelona forward Messi has donated a total of 1m euros to two hospitals, one in Barcelona and the other in his native Argentina.

    Juventus and Portugal star Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes have donated 1m euros to three intensive care units for patients suffering from coronavirus at hospitals in Lisbon and Porto.

    Last week Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski donated 1m euros to fight the coronavirus pandemic in Germany.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Guardiola donates €1m to help fight coronavirus in Spain

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has made a donation of €1m (£918,000) to help fight coronavirus in Spain.

    Spaniard Guardiola – a former manager of Barcelona, and is currently with his family at his home in the city – has made his donation to the Medical College of Barcelona and the Angel Soler Daniel Foundation.

    Spain is one of the worst-hit countries in Europe with more than 2,696 people dead and nearly 40,000 infected.

    It will go towards buying medical equipment and protective material for hospital staff in Catalonia.

    “Pep Guardiola has made a donation of one million euros to the Fundacio Angel Soler Daniel for the acquisition and supply of health equipment to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic,” the Foundation said in a statement.

    “The fundraising campaign led by the Official College of Doctors of Barcelona and managed through the Foundation, is aimed at obtaining cash donations from doctors who are members of the college and the general population to buy health equipment which is currently lacking in hospitals in Catalonia.

    “It will also help to finance the alternative 3D production of respirator masks and other protective items for health workers.”

    Source: skysports.com

  • Pep yet to think about summer revamp

    Pep Guardiola claims he has not given much thought about revamping Manchester City’s squad this summer.

    City are expected to make some changes for next term after a disappointing Premier League title defence this season.

    Guardiola’s side, who began the campaign with hopes of winning a third successive league crown, trail current leaders Liverpool by 22 points.

    Guardiola said: “I don’t know. I have an idea but not even had contact from anyone in terms of that because, during the season, I am not too much ready to think about that.

    “Of course we have to do something because David (Silva) is leaving and in some positions we are going to do it, but I don’t know how many or how much because the market is always difficult and still there are two or three months, and two or three months can change a lot of things.

    “There are incredible nice things still to fight for. We are in a final in two or three weeks to win one more title and we have the FA Cup, the league to try and finish second in and fight for qualification for the Champions League next season, and two big games against Real Madrid.”

    Guardiola’s own long-term future is unclear. The Spaniard is contracted only to the end of next season and there has been speculation he could leave even sooner.

    The Spaniard, however, insists his situation will have little bearing on players when they consider whether to join City or not.

    He said: “That’s not the only reason they come here – because I am here. We have been in contact with others who didn’t come when I was here.

    “I think the club is big enough and good enough to be attractive for players who want to play in the way we do, or they watch TV and see us and we have played against them.

    Source: skysports.com

  • Mikel Arteta to travel with Man City despite holding Arsenal talks

    Mikel Arteta will travel with Manchester City for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final at Oxford despite holding talks with Arsenal about their managerial vacancy, says Pep Guardiola.

    Assistant manager Arteta, 37, took part in training on Tuesday after two rounds of discussions with the Gunners.

    “He is an incredible person, a good manager, that’s why he has done well with us,” said City boss Guardiola.

    Read:Arsenal chiefs fear top stars will leave if Emery remains in charge

    “He is talking with Arsenal so I don’t know what is going to happen.”

    Gunners chief executive Vinai Venkatesham was pictured outside former Spain U21 international Arteta’s home after both flew north following City’s 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

    It is not yet known whether Arteta has been offered the chance to succeed compatriot Unai Emery, who was sacked in November.

    Read:Everton: David Moyes still under consideration to replace Marco Silva

    City are reportedly fuming with Arsenal about their pursuit of former Gunners midfielder Arteta and have told the London club it will cost them a seven-figure sum to prise him away.

    Guardiola added: “Now it happens with Mikel that teams want him. He knows exactly what we would like but at the end the decision is personal.

    “The organisation of the club is always live, it doesn’t always stay the same – what works today might not work tomorrow. The people today maybe won’t be here tomorrow.

    “Now he is part of our group and staff and he stays here. When we have any new news I will know, you will know and we will see what happens.”

    Source: bbc.com