LONDON • Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola does not believe Liverpool's recent stumbles in the Premier League title race have been the result of mounting pressure applied by his side.
While Liverpool will still have a game in hand after this weekend's round of matches, back-to-back league draws against Leicester and West Ham have allowed the champions right back into the race.
But at a press conference ahead of today's league game with Chelsea at home, the City boss felt the Reds were not going to buckle and would "be there till the end".
He said: "Liverpool are exceptional, I don't have the feeling (that there are nerves), (Jurgen) Klopp, Virgil van Dijk (don't) feel the pressure, (Roberto) Firmino, (Mohamed) Salah, (Sadio) Mane.
"I feel they play good and try to win the games, (so) we have to be there to win our games."
Such is the embarrassment of riches at his disposal that he will have the luxury of recalling Kevin de Bruyne against his former club today, after leaving the player on the bench at Everton in midweek.
Although de Bruyne came on late to set up Gabriel Jesus' second goal in their 2-0 win, Guardiola is wary of overplaying his side's Player of the Year last season after two long injury layoffs this campaign.
Asked whether de Bruyne, 27, would again be named as a substitute, he confirmed "it was quite possible" before hinting that the player, who has started only four league games this term, had dropped down the pecking order.
He added: "At the end, we judge the players for who they are, but they are there to perform.
"There are times when teammates are in better condition. In football, what you have done in the past, you have to do again in future.
"We try to control the players, he played the last two. At Everton (on Wednesday), a few minutes, I want him to play as much as possible.
"He went out for five minutes and he was incredible. I want him to sustain that for a long time. When you're out a long time, I don't want him playing game, game, game."
Aymeric Laporte is expected to continue to deputise at left-back against Maurizio Sarri's men today, as first-choice Benjamin Mendy has played just 27 minutes of football since Nov 11.
Guardiola conceded that it could yet be some time before Mendy, who also spent most of last season on the sidelines, returns to full match fitness.
The 48-year-old said: "He's injured, it's not easy, (the) meniscus (issue). He needs to re-adapt, it's not that if you start training in two days you are fit, he has to handle the effort we are putting on him - he has to be careful."
Mendy had nearly earned Guardiola's ire after the 24-year-old put up an Instagram post indicating he was in Hong Kong, despite telling his manager he was going to Paris.
While he later clarified on Twitter it had been a joke, he continued to post memes of his whereabouts and a picture yesterday, which apparently indicated he was in Dubai.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
MAN CITY V CHELSEA
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, 11.55pm
Valencia eased into the semi-finals of the Europa League for the first time in five years with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to fellow Spanish side Villarreal in heavy rain on Thursday for a
Valencia stroll into Europa semis with Villarreal win - Daily
Milivojevic penalty seals Palace win at Newcastle (Reuters) - Crystal Palace all but banished any lingering relegation fears as captain Luka Milivojevic fired home a late penalty to secure a 1-0 Premier League victory at Newcastle on Saturday.
Milivojevic penalty seals Palace win at Newcastle | Reuters.com
Foilboards: How the F*ck Do They Work? Laird Hamilton, foiled again. But Laird Hamilton riding a foil board, on the other hand? What kind of magic is at play here? Seriously, how in the
Hamilton Tickets 2019 | Hamilton Broadway Musical
AD
SINGAPORE — Top German football club FC Bayern Munich has inked a three-year partnership with Sport Singapore (SportSG) that will see the record champions working with the national sports body
SportSG announce a three-year partnership with Bayern Munich
The search for missing Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot Dave Ibbotson has restarted after a GoFundMe campaign reached and passed its €300,000 goal. The crowdfunding campaign was
Messi urges search for Emiliano Sala to continue - SABC News
New favourites face two stiff tests The challenge is different for Liverpool. A weight of expectation invariably surrounds a club of their size and history, but now the equation has changed.
Ballon d'Or: Lionel Messi, Virgil van Dijk, analysis, odds
Karim Benzema scored his sixth goal in four games as Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-0 on Sunday for a fourth successive La Liga victory. The win took the European champions to within eight points of leaders FC Barcelona. The French striker knocked a cross from Spanish left back Sergio Reguilon into the net from close range on the half hour mark.
Confident Real stroll to fourth straight win - Football News
LIVERPOOL, England (REUTERS) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has confirmed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a serious knee injury and could return to training as
Oxlade-Chamberlain could return to training in February
Man Utd and Liverpool look to sign £70m Lille winger Pep but star could be too much for Emery has had an impressive last few seasons for Lille with scored 21 goals in 36 appearance this
Jürgen Klopp guides Liverpool to Champions League glory
Get a report of the Paris Saint-Germain vs. Nimes 2018/19 French Ligue 1, Regular Season football match. Mbappe reaches Ligue 1 half century as PSG brush Nimes aside. play.
Soccer: Mbappe reaches half century as PSG brush Nimes aside
Chelsea players proved their backing for Maurizio Sarri in Carabao Cup final, insists David Luiz. Sarri's position has been under threat after a poor spell that culminated in the 6-0 at City
Football: MP & Silva's Singapore office in provisional liquidation following London HQ's insolvency. seeking a High Court order to appoint it as provisional liquidator in order to prevent a
Asier Arsuaga :: Txokolarte
Mohamed Salah expressed his delight at playing a full role in Liverpool's 2-0 Champions League final victory over Tottenham on Saturday, after injury ruined his night against Real Madrid a year ago.
Football: Salah lauds 'unbelievable' Liverpool after
tellmysport.com/soccer/football-salah-lauds-unbelievable-liverpool-after-champions-league-glory/
Football: Salah lauds 'unbelievable' Liverpool after Champions League glory 06/03/2019 Soccer MADRID (AFP) - Mohamed Salah expressed his delight at playing a full role in Liverpool's 2-0 Champions League final victory over Tottenham on Saturday (June 1), after injury ruined his night against Real Madrid a year ago.
Salah lauds 'unbelievable' Liverpool after Champions League
yoursoccerchat.com/salah-lauds-unbelievable-liverpool-after-champions-league-glory/
Salah lauds 'unbelievable' Liverpool after Champions League glory Posted in AFP Madrid (AFP) - Mohamed Salah expressed his delight at playing a full role in Liverpool's 2-0 Champions League final victory over Tottenham on Saturday, after injury ruined his night against Real Madrid a year ago.
Salah Lauds 'Unbelievable' Liverpool After Champions League Glory
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen