Guardiola on huge clash with Arsenal and title hopes (Full Presser)

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola previews their huge Premier League clash with Arsenal and their early season title hopes Etihad Training Campus, Manchester, UK

Transcript

00:00Hi Pep, first of all, can you just update us on Kevin De Bruyne please, and if he'll be fit?

00:07He feels today a little bit better, but not yet. Two years off, tomorrow we're training and we'll see.

00:15So he could be a quality player?

00:17Could be.

00:19I know it's very early in the season, but what can you learn about your team, about Arsenal,

00:27by playing in a game of this magnitude at this point?

00:31Always have been tight games last year, apparently because I think we are a good team, but they are good too.

00:39They do many, many good things in all aspects, high pressing, defending deep, transitions.

00:45It's a complete, absolutely complete team, that's why they have been the biggest rival in the last two seasons.

00:52Early stage of the season I would say, so nothing more than the mood for the next games, the influence for the next games.

01:05But in terms of table and everything, it's not much important.

01:09It will be important when we go to London in the second part of the season.

01:14Hi Pep, obviously Arsenal have been one of your closest challengers in recent times.

01:19Do you feel that they are at their strongest now that they've ever been, when you've been going head-to-head?

01:25Every season is stronger, yeah.

01:27Deeper squad, add more and more players and top quality.

01:32Every season is even better and even better.

01:36What have you seen as a key development in Michael Artes' side that makes you believe that they are...?

01:41You can ask him, because if I say something, they will say that I'm playing mind games or something like that.

01:48Because I have a high opinion about him, his team.

01:51Everybody knows that he grew up as a team year by year, so there's no doubt about that.

01:57Both years have been close, but we have been so strong as well, and still we are strong and looking forward to the game.

02:06You can play mind games if you want to.

02:08No, I am not good at that.

02:11When you won the title last season, Rodri was asked what the difference between City and Arsenal was,

02:18and he said he felt it came down to mentality.

02:21When he played in the March, he said,

02:26I saw them and said, these guys don't want to beat us, they just want to draw.

02:31He said, that mentality, I don't think we would do it the same way.

02:34Do you feel there's still a difference mentality-wise?

02:38No.

02:39You don't agree with Rodri?

02:42And Arsenal, do you think there's been a growth in where they're at?

02:45But not now, four years ago.

02:47No.

02:48In recent years, we've seen quite a lot of high-scoring games between the teams at the top of the table.

02:57Last year, you and Arsenal, it was 1-0 and 0-0.

03:01Do you think that's maybe the way things are going to go more, or are you expecting something similar?

03:07Similar.

03:08And do you feel there's a trend in football back towards those top games being really, really tight?

03:16To score goals, you can score from many different aspects.

03:22In the set-piece, it's not easy because they are so tall, taller than us.

03:25In the transitions, her backwards are quicker than our transitions, offensive.

03:31And when we are able to set them back, and they are so strong defensively,

03:35they accumulate a lot of players that the modern football, the strikers forget about it.

03:39To go to the strikers, they go to the holding midfielders.

03:42So the gap between the spaces, we saw against Inter.

03:45So they defend the space.

03:47They have incredible defensively with the runners in the channels inside,

03:52being defensive with the people in the middle.

03:55So Saliba and Gabriel, they are incredibly focused with just hurling all the time.

04:00So it's not one against one, it's always two against one, sometimes three against one.

04:06So that's why it's difficult to attack them.

04:09So they didn't, I think in 24, they didn't lose away.

04:12I think they draw just one game against us, and they won it.

04:16So it's not just one game or two games.

04:20There are many games, they are solid, consistent in that.

04:23They don't concede goals, and they didn't, the opponents, create much options of that.

04:27So that's why you have to try to read well the way we have to do it.

04:30And at the same time, I'm looking forward.

04:32I'm looking forward to play the game.

04:35And in every game, it's a chance to get him better or play better

04:38or do it better than the game before.

04:40And as much you play with the opponent, they are consistent in doing similar things.

04:44Always you have a chance to improve some aspects.

04:47So it's a chance for us.

04:49We play at home, and hopefully we can do a good performance.

05:02I'm so sorry for him.

05:03I like to play with the biggest, the toughest squad.

05:07Of course, he's an important player.

05:09But when year by year, Arsenal is getting better,

05:13it's because they invest a lot with a deeper squad,

05:16to have more players' ability.

05:18When you have, during the long, long season, you have problems

05:21with the injured suspensions, bad forms or whatever,

05:23and always you have a deeper squad, it helps you to notice.

05:26But he's a captain from Arsenal, and everybody knows how important

05:29and how good player, an exceptional player he is.

05:33And also, there's been some talk in the room before the game now

05:36that you've played home against Inter on Wednesday,

05:38while Arsenal had to go to Baigamu, Atlanta, for the away game on Thursday,

05:43with the difference in restitution and all these kind of things.

05:46What is your take on that?

05:48It's an advantage, but I'm going to make a list in the last six years

05:51how many times we were in disadvantage against tough opponents

05:54when we had less days of recovery.

05:57I have a huge list to show you.

05:59But of course, it's a little bit of an advantage.

06:03Arsenal signed Raheem Sterling on deadline day last year.

06:06I think it came as a bit of a surprise to some people.

06:09What will he bring to that sort of decision?

06:11Well, I heard Mikel say it was a surprise to him as well.

06:13He didn't expect to hire Raheem.

06:16So, I wish him all the best.

06:18I say it many times.

06:19For all the players that behave unbelievably in this club,

06:22that help us unbelievably to be who we are, to where we are.

06:27So, we cannot understand the first period, the first years.

06:31In my tenure here, in our tenure here, in our time here without Raheem.

06:35So, it has been so important.

06:36I wish him all the best.

06:38Of course, I prefer don't perform well tomorrow than Sunday.

06:42But of course, I wish him all the best.

06:45Pep, I know you've been an advocate for the highest quality games

06:49and for ensuring players get enough rest and recovery.

06:53Rodri came out with comments saying players are probably closer

06:58to striking than ever with the increased amount of games.

07:00And then there have been a lot of other players who have come out

07:03and echoed his sentiments.

07:05Just wanted to get your feelings on that.

07:08Well, I'm agree with you.

07:10Maybe for the first time.

07:15That many, many voices are talking about the players.

07:18I'm pretty sure of that.

07:20If something is going to change, it always must come from the players.

07:24The only ones can change something is about the organisation

07:27to take a voice and do something.

07:29That business can be without managers, can be without sports directors,

07:35can be without media, can be without owners.

07:40But without the players, it cannot be played.

07:43So, the only ones who have power to do it are them.

07:48And also, I'm pretty sure they do it to make it a justice game,

07:50to be a more attractive game.

07:52And that's the reason why I think not just Rodri,

07:54but many, many players.

07:56I would say not just in this country,

07:59but all around the world, people are starting to talk.

08:02We'll see.

08:05Pep, you've not lost a home now since the Renfrew game in November 2013.

08:11Sorry?

08:12You've not lost an empty house in the league since the Renfrew game,

08:15just before the World Cup.

08:17I don't like this type of questions.

08:20You did it against Renfrew.

08:22If you did it against Renfrew, I don't know what would happen.

08:24So, I advise you to change the subject.

08:28You have time.

08:30Is there a reason why you want to stay in the league?

08:33Why are you playing so well at home?

08:35I know you win matches all the time.

08:37Listen, of course it's a good record.

08:39To win the Premier League that we won in the last years,

08:41four in a row, you have to make incredible results at home,

08:43incredible results away.

08:45Otherwise, you cannot win.

08:47The contenders we had in Liverpool and Arsenal in the last years

08:50is above 90 points.

08:53So, I remember in the 1890s, people didn't do 90 points.

08:57So, we have to do a lot of points at home.

09:00In the bad moments, we win games.

09:01In the bad performances, we win games.

09:03And on both sides.

09:04In Etihad and away from Etihad.

09:08Hi Pep.

09:09Obviously, Phil was missing at the time, right?

09:11He's come back now.

09:12Has he benefited from that, right?

09:15Who, Phil?

09:16Phil Foden, yeah.

09:19Every player needs a break, rest.

09:23And have some disturbing in the last weeks.

09:26But, yeah, he played a good 45 minutes in the last game.

09:29He was the best player in the league last season.

09:31So, of course we need him to make competition

09:34and fight with the other midfield players, other wingers.

09:37Yeah, it's important he's back.

09:39And he played good minutes.

09:41Unfortunately, the final decision was not a little bit more calm,

09:45you know, to take it.

09:46But, yeah, his intensity and pressing

09:49and his movement in the small pockets

09:52is one of the best of the world.

09:54So that's why we are very pleased.

09:56He's pleased.

09:57You can imagine how pleased I am that he's back.

10:00Are you ready to play 19?

10:01Yeah, I think so.

10:03One more before the embargo, guys.

10:05With Simon, just in front of you.

10:08I know you said it's not as important, this game,

10:10as the one at half-time later in the season.

10:14With the chance to go five points ahead...

10:17No, no, I'm saying it's so important.

10:19We do not take it...

10:21It's important, the game against Arsenal,

10:22in terms of you're going to win or lose the Premier League.

10:25It's not.

10:26After five games, it's never important.

10:28But if we don't think Arsenal, with the quality they have,

10:34is not important, we'll be wrong.

10:37But, I mean, we will certainly make a lot of it

10:39if, you know, whoever wins.

10:42Is it something that you sort of lean into

10:44while trying to get the players not to think about it?

10:47About the result, about the five points ahead.

10:50Of course, why should I tell them if they know it?

10:53So they see a table, two in front, they win five, yeah.

10:57So we draw two, so they know it.

11:00But I think it's not a motivation,

11:02oh, I've got to win, I've got five points in front,

11:04in a five fixture.

11:06You just have to do a good game, what you have to do.

11:08And, of course, there are many aspects,

11:10because sometimes they setbacks, sometimes they make high pressing,

11:13but sustain this high pressing for a long time.

11:15Sometimes they sustain a long time,

11:18and try to avoid set-pieces,

11:22because I think statistically,

11:27and I don't think statistically it's the best team in the world,

11:29but the world, in terms of corner-streak,

11:32is how good they work.

11:35So, yeah, many things you have to pay attention to.

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