Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle at Etihad Stadium (20:00 GMT).
City won the first leg 2-0 last month.
Advertisement
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Guardiola confirmed Jeremy Doku returned to training yesterday, while Ruben Dias has not done so yet.
Rayan Cherki picked up “a knock” in Sunday’s draw at Tottenham and he will be assessed again on Tuesday.
On the opportunity to make a final: “We have the chance to make our fifth final in 10 years in the Carabao Cup. I prefer to start 2-0 up but I know perfectly how many times we have played Newcastle – the pride they have. They are a Champions League team and it will be a tough game. We have to be prepared and play our game for our people, our fans and try to reach Wembley in March.”
Asked about City’s January window, Guardiola – with a heavy hint of sarcasm – said: “Really good. I am a little bit sad and upset because net spend the last five years – we are seventh in the Premier League. I want to be the first. I don’t understand how the club don’t spend more money so I am a little bit grumpy with them. Good luck to the six teams that are in front of us in net spend over the last five years. Good luck, we are waiting.”
On Kalvin Phillips’ loan move to Sheffield United: “He has trained in the last days because he was injured and he has to get minutes to recover to his best. He has to play, have some loans. Everyone is desperate for him to come back and play some minutes and be his best because he deserves it.”
More on how much Phillips has struggled at City: “It is true but most of the time it has been setbacks with injuries with knees and hamstrings and shoulders and ankles. He has struggled with that.”
Asked why his side have struggled in second halves this season, Guardiola said: “It is the reality. The second half we have dropped what we have shown in the first. It is the youngest side we have had in 10 years and maybe we need to live it and stop trying to do what we did in the first halves. We have to grow with that, definitely.”
[BBC]
