Pep Guardiola insists he is rejuvenated after the summer break and ready to take charge of Manchester City as they bid for a seventh Premier League title in eight seasons.
City won their fourth consecutive title last season but Guardiola admitted: “I don’t know what will motivate me going into next season”, adding: “Realistically I’m closer to leaving than staying.”
But after a summer break that included a reunion with members of the Barcelona B team who won the third division title in his first season as manager in 2008, the 53-year-old said he would be ready for City’s Premier League opener against Chelsea on Sunday. Sky Sports.
Sunday, August 18th, 4pm
Kickoff: 4:30pm
“This tournament puts you in the position you want to be,” Guardiola said. “You’re a bit off in pre-season but when you play the Community Shield it ignites something and hopefully the players are motivated to do it again.”
“You’re always a bit tired at the end of the season. When you take a break from work and get away for a bit, your energy comes back and that’s what you need.”
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Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Oscar Bobb has been injured in training and will be out for up to four months.
“To work better, you have to relax and do other things, otherwise it won’t work.”
“Sometimes I get tired and I take a break at those moments. That’s why I have staff to help me. It wasn’t like that before, but it’s not productive.”
“If you don’t have the enthusiasm, the passion and the desire, then you shouldn’t be here. That’s the key.”
“Now that I’ve done it, the pressure is a little less, I have a little peace of mind. If I win, I’ll have a better life.”
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Kweku Afari, Noubaid Haroon and Flex discuss whether Manchester City will be forced to dip into the transfer market following Oscar Bobb’s broken leg.
“The title is not my motivation right now.”
But Guardiola admitted his motivation for his ninth season in the Premier League is not winning the title, but rather ensuring City finish in the top four.
“Our target is to finish in the top four,” Guardiola said. “Newcastle will play one game a week so it will be the same as Newcastle two seasons ago.”
“You don’t have to talk about Arsenal and Liverpool and Manchester United will be up there eventually.”
“Tottenham have invested and the manager knows them well. Chelsea believe they are there because of the number of players they have and the calibre of the manager.”
“If you slip up even a little bit, you’re out. That’s been the reality since I came here my first season.”
“We’ve won six out of seven games and won the Premier League, but we’re starting from scratch and we’re fighting for 114 points.”
“If they say we’re the favourites, we have to accept that and embrace it. It’s getting harder and harder every season.”
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Enzo Maresca says Conor Gallagher will not feature in Manchester City’s Premier League opener on Sunday as the club seeks to resolve his future.
City’s first test will be against Chelsea, managed by Guardiola’s former assistant Enzo Maresca, who will be in charge for the first time since replacing Mauricio Pochettino this summer.
Chelsea faced City twice in the Premier League last season, holding them to a draw, and Guardiola said: “Everyone wants to beat us, that’s normal.”
“So if we look at ourselves, we can always improve. If everyone improves a little bit, we’ll be 11 times stronger.”
“Right now I have no motivation to win the Premier League again. That will be decided in the last month. Now it’s ‘Can we beat Chelsea?’ We didn’t beat Chelsea last season.”
“It’s not going to be a perfect game against Chelsea, we’re not at our best but that’s normal.”
Watch Sunday’s Chelsea vs Manchester City match live on Sky Sports Premier League from 4pm. Kick-off is at 4.30pm. Stream the Premier League and more with NOW.
