Guardiola reckons City face ‘best team in the league’ tonight
London – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was left issuing a public apology to former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard after a bizarre outburst in a news conference last week.
Guardiola was stern in his defence of the club amid more than 100 charges of alleged financial misconduct by the Premier League, and referenced Gerrard’s slip in 2014 against Chelsea which helped Manchester City to pip Liverpool to the title.
He had said: “Some moments belong to us – they absolutely belong to us regardless of the sentence.
“The (title-winning) goal from (Sergio) Aguero, when (Mario) Balotelli slipped (in 2012)? I don’t know if we are responsible for Steven Gerrard slipping at Anfield. Was that our fault? I have respect for Steven Gerrard – but that moment belongs to us.”
But looking ahead to tonight’s league match at Arsenal, Guardiola began his news conference by expressing his shame at his “stupid” comments.
“I apologise to Steven Gerrard for my unnecessary and stupid comments I said the last time about him. He knows how I admire him and his career, what he has done for this country that I am living and training in,” the Spaniard said.
“I am ashamed of myself, what he said because he doesn’t deserve it. I truly believe my comments in my previous press conference to defend my club but I didn’t represent my club well putting his name in these stupid comments.”
City boss Guardiola said that Arsenal are the best team in the Premier League as he prepares his side for their trip to the Emirates in the top-of-the-table clash.
City, second in the standings and three points behind leaders Arsenal with one more game played, will be hoping to close in on the top spot after they recovered from their recent slump to stroll past Aston Villa with a 3-1 victory on Sunday.
“So far, they are the best team in the Premier League. We felt it a couple of weeks ago (in the FA Cup). The commitment, they are sharp. It will be a big, big battle. You have to be ready,” Guardiola said of Arsenal.
Manchester City could move for Adrien Rabiot on free transfer
Manchester City could look to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot on a free transfer agreement this summer, according to a report.
THE LOWDOWN: CITY EYEING MIDFIELDER
It is clear that Pep Guardiola wants to strengthen in midfield, with Man City recently being linked with Frankfurt’s Daichi Kamada, who is also available on a free at the end of the season.
THE LATEST: RABIOT LINKED
According to a report from CalcioMercato (via Sport Witness), Rabiot has no intention of signing a new deal with Juventus as the club cannot offer him the salary that he wants, so he will look to move on in the summer.
With the Frenchman’s contract expiring this summer he is available to leave on a free transfer, and will have no shortage of offers – City are apparently just one of several Premier League teams eyeing a move.
WHICH OF THESE FAMOUS CELEBRITIES SUPPORT MAN CITY? FIRST UP, ANDY BURNHAM THE BLUE?
THE VERDICT: GET IT DONE?
The 27-year-old has been in good form in the Serie A this season, contributing four goals and two assists in 18 appearances from central midfield, already matching his highest-ever goal tally across a league campaign with Juventus.
Hailed as ‘sensational‘ by the media, the maestro has been one of the Italian side’s key performers, weighing in with a 7.08 average rating from Sofascore, a higher figure than both Gundogan and Kalvin Phillips have attained in the English top flight.
Rabiot would be an improvement on Gundogan defensively, given that he has averaged more tackles, interceptions and aerials won per 90 than the 32-year-old in the past year, and signing him on a free transfer would be a very astute piece of business.
Source: sowetanlive.co.za; footballtransfertavern.com
