LONDON • Manchester City have just won the League Cup last Sunday, but manager Pep Guardiola believes there is no time to rest as he urged his team to carry on the momentum in their bid to retain their Premier League title this season.
City will host West Ham in the league today and, when asked yesterday if his players were fatigued following the penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea, the Spaniard said: "It helps. The guys train good when you win the second title of the season (after their Community Shield win).
"The last few days, the conditions have improved, but the reality is we don't have much time to think about what has happened.
"After the West Ham game, we have three days and then Bournemouth, but we are going to pick a strong side in order to try and win the game."
While it is Guardiola's ambition to win every competition his team are contesting, he will likely be cautious when former City boss Manuel Pellegrini's Hammers visit the Etihad.
Midfielder Fernandinho (groin) and central defender Aymeric Laporte (hamstring) picked up injuries at Wembley that would sideline them for several weeks.
Fernandinho, in particular, has become one of Guardiola's most dependable lieutenants.
Since his arrival in 2013, City have won more than 70 per cent of the games in which he has played, a percentage that drops below 60 in his absence.
Most recently, when City suffered shock consecutive defeats by Crystal Palace and Leicester, the 33-year-old was absent.
Ilkay Gundogan and Fabian Delph are logical replacements in the defensive midfield role, but they cannot match Fernandinho's poise and tackling ability.
The Brazilian's all-round excellence even saw him selected at centre-half for the recent home win over Arsenal, and the loss of Laporte adds to the manager's concerns in that department.
Veteran Vincent Kompany has struggled for fitness and form for much of the season although John Stones is close to returning from his injury layoff.
Guardiola knows that if City are to win the Premier League again this term, and also the FA Cup and the Champions League, Fernandinho will be a crucial factor.
City, on 65 points, go into today's match a point behind leaders Liverpool, who have drawn three of their last four league matches.
"Still, they are leading," Guardiola said, shrugging off suggestions that Jurgen Klopp's men are struggling.
"There are still a lot of games to play and they are leading by one point. The lead is shorter than I expected a few weeks ago, but they are still leading.
"I didn't watch the Liverpool game against Manchester United (0-0 draw) so I cannot give you an opinion.
"The difference is one point with 33 points to play. It's in Liverpool's hands, but it's in ours too, we have to put on pressure. We fight until the end for the title."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
MAN CITY V WEST HAM
Singtel TV Ch105 & StarHub Ch230, tomorrow, 3.50am
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri during a past press conference. [Courtesy] Maurizio Sarri insists he expects to avoid being sacked as Chelsea manager if his troubled side can put together a
Chelsea could axe transfer after Maurizio Sarri decision
Real Madrid They say you should never go back. However, Mourinho has shown in the past that such an adage is one he has no time for, demonstrated by his return to Chelsea for a second stint after departing Real Madrid in May 2013.
Sacked Mourinho will be next Real Madrid - mirror.co.uk
• Some would call it a racial divide. • racial equality • The event is designed to promote racial harmony. • Local police deny that have used racial profiling when stopping motorists. • The heads of civil rights organizations that gathered for the announcement praised Flagstar for making real racial progress.
Police face racism scandal after black man records abuse | UK
Molde owners will support me if I stay at Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said the owners of Norwegian club Molde sent him to Old Trafford with their blessing and asked him to try to turn his temporary stint at the club into a permanent role.
Molde owners will support me if I stay at United-Solskjaer
Football: Real Madrid end awful campaign with 12th league
What Zlatan Ibrahimovic told Jose Mourinho ahead of leaving Manchester United. The Swedish striker swapped Manchester for Los Angeles in March, having struggled at Old Trafford following a serious
Manchester United striking crisis forces Jose Mourinho to
preview.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/manchester-united-team-news-revealed-vs-chelsea-a7626431.html
Jose Mourinho has the mother of all striking headaches that could force him into playing Marouane Fellaini up front against Chelsea. Mourinho is without no fewer than four of his first choice forwards with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial all missing for Manchester United's trip to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea 4-0 Tottenham: Mourinho's march towards the title
As with life, striking a balance in football is key to success and happiness. On Friday night in Busan, the Socceroos face Korea Republic in a curious clash, where a new-look squad will take on
Need for speed the answer to topple Thailand | Socceroos
Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Girona - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 2, 2019 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann scores their second goal REUTERS/Sergio Perez
Late strikes from Godin and Griezmann keep Atletico in title
Atletico Madrid needed Thomas Lemar to come off the bench and score an 85th-minute winner against Eibar on Saturday as they stretched their lead over Real Madrid to seven points in La Liga. Real play at home to in-form Athletic Bilbao on Sunday but Atletico took another step towards finishing above their city rivals for a second consecutive
Atletico extend lead over Real with narrow win over Eibar | IOL
Antonio Conte has been named Inter Milan manager, replacing the sacked Luciano Spalletti. The 49-year-old returns to work in Italy after being dismissed by Chelsea at the end of last season. He
Antonio Conte named as new Inter Milan manager | Sports News
Man City still teenagers in adult world of Champions League - Guardiola for Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in Champions League shocks last week. Guardiola admitted even he was taken aback
Man City still teenagers in adult world of Champions League
next.co.uk - shop online for the latest fashion for women, men, children and homeware. Next day delivery and free returns available.
The Next 48hOURS - Home | Facebook
Hakeem Al Araibi (Reuters pic) DUBAI: FIFA says it has been in regular contact with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over the Bahraini soccer player arrested in Thailand in November over a
Football: Fifa says it's in regular contact with AFC over
sportsloveme.com/soccer/football-fifa-says-its-in-regular-contact-with-afc-over-detained-bahraini-player/
Football: Fifa says it's in regular contact with AFC over detained Bahraini player 01/17/2019 FIFA , FOOTBALL MATCHES , HAKEEM DUBAI (REUTERS) - Fifa says it has been in regular contact with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over the Bahraini footballer arrested in Thailand in November over a prison sentence in his homeland.
FIFA says in regular contact with AFC over detained refugee
Team Abu Dhabi duo aiming for more European glory on France's Saône river Team Abu Dhabi duo aiming for more European glory on France's Saône river. Updated 08 September 2016 .
Ole Gunnar Solskjær demands European glory - theguardian.com
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen