Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on return of Kevin De Bruyne, players safety at home, facing Sheffield United and Oscar Bobb
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00:00 Is Jack in the squad tomorrow? Is he okay to play?
00:07 Now he's training at three.
00:09 Yesterday he didn't come for the recovery, he was with the family.
00:13 We're going to see how he feels today. We'll talk to him and we'll see.
00:17 I don't know right now.
00:19 Is Erling training as well?
00:22 No.
00:23 Is there any kind of a date when he might come?
00:27 He's training with us, but I don't know.
00:30 I didn't speak with the doctors either, so we'll see.
00:34 The closest one I have the feeling is maybe Kevin.
00:38 We have that game and after we have seven days with Huddersfield,
00:43 we have six games, six days before Newcastle,
00:46 and after we have 14 days until the next FA Cup, just in case we beat Huddersfield.
00:51 So in that period maybe we can recover players.
00:57 Will Kevin be in the squad tomorrow?
01:03 I don't know. Let me go to the training session.
01:07 In terms of... Obviously he's only played 20 minutes this season.
01:10 How big an influence can he have on the second half of this season for your team,
01:15 coming in now, providing that fresh impetus, that quality?
01:19 It's massive. We have Kevin and Erling and Jeremy and John available.
01:26 Ruben, the last game, was sick, could not be involved.
01:30 Of course it's important, there will be a lot of games and we have to be everyone.
01:35 Of course we're talking about important figures, important players for us, no doubt about that.
01:44 Going back to the incident at Greenwich's house the other night,
01:49 are you going to have a conversation with the players about security around the houses?
01:54 It feels like these sort of incidents are becoming more and more common.
01:58 There was the one with Cancelo not so long ago.
02:01 United play as well and I don't know many news in London, but I think they have security.
02:09 Yeah, but unfortunately it's happened. Today it's happened many times, not just in the UK,
02:15 I know in Catalonia, but I know more because I'm living there, my family is living there,
02:21 so many things happened today. You have to be careful, definitely.
02:25 Not much on social media, unless they know what you're doing, it's better.
02:29 But all the people now are waiting, "Where are you? What are you doing?"
02:35 Unfortunately it's happened. What happened with Joao was so scary because the family was being attacked.
02:41 It's difficult with jewellery or money or whatever, but it's tough.
02:51 At the end, the family being there, it's difficult to process.
02:56 It was a tough moment for Jaguar, it was with Joao before. You have to be careful.
03:01 You were saying there that you have to keep off social media, don't let people know where you are.
03:07 How sad is that for footballers who aren't able to be themselves?
03:12 It's what it is, it's what it is. It's happened today.
03:16 Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Russia are still there.
03:24 Big difference between no middle classes today, people with a lot of money, people struggling.
03:34 The people have a good middle class, the people don't do that.
03:37 But today, worldwide, it's happened.
03:42 The people do these kinds of things, unfortunately, for many years already.
03:48 Hi Pep, just on John Stones, do you know how long he'll be out for?
03:51 Who?
03:52 John Stones.
03:53 But for a while, so hopefully maybe Newcastle or maybe after Abu Dhabi.
04:01 Last time John Stones was out, you said you were in trouble with his absence.
04:06 Do you think the squad is better capable of replacing him now?
04:09 We handled it this season, so still we are there.
04:12 We are not far away from the top of the league, we won already two titles this season.
04:15 We are qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, so it's important.
04:20 I would say that after the game I was a little bit, why the line-up, don't make a decision.
04:26 But I saw the action and the referee took the right decision because it was so tight, you know, the side.
04:34 And that action has to be followed and after BAR intervened.
04:37 But their action was so clear, do it.
04:40 And the action was, from a point of view right now, well decided for the referee.
04:46 And unfortunately he got injured, it happened.
04:50 So what can I say?
04:51 So recover and hopefully it could be worse.
04:54 We have to be optimistic of that and hopefully in two weeks, three weeks we'll be fine.
04:59 Do you think the players in the squad now are capable of covering for his absence?
05:02 Absolutely.
05:03 We have to.
05:04 We have academy, so 11 players.
05:07 I love to be everyone but they are not there for many reasons, so what can I do?
05:12 Complain?
05:13 It's not our style, so it's...
05:16 John is not there, help to recover.
05:19 Like Erling, like Jeremy, like Kevin and all the players are not fit.
05:24 And go with the players that we have.
05:26 Pep, just on Kevin, are you having to hold him back a bit?
05:34 I mean, he must be desperate to play again after all this time.
05:36 Absolutely.
05:37 Absolutely.
05:38 His training is with a lot of energy.
05:40 So, with his mind, I know injury is not good for anyone, but with his mind I think these two, three months off have been good for him.
05:49 The desire to come back, you know, to play what he loves, is playing football.
05:54 But, yeah, now he has to handle, you know, when he's long injured with surgery and the muscular, he has to be careful.
06:03 You know?
06:04 Because you look like you are perfect but you are not.
06:08 You notice how many minutes you have to handle and step by step.
06:12 It's not to play 90 and 90 after three days and 90 after three days.
06:16 So, after that we'll be in trouble.
06:19 Is he constantly telling you that he wants to play?
06:22 That he feels ready?
06:23 Is he always in your ear?
06:25 Yeah, but I just speak with him and especially the doctors, the physios, so, OK, he can play maybe half-time, maybe 10 minutes, maybe 20, maybe...
06:32 Now we are in a process that we can play and have to have seven days to recover.
06:36 So, it's not three days, three days, maybe as much, you know, if the people need him.
06:42 So, yeah, we are going to try to use him.
06:45 OK.
06:46 Hello, Pep.
06:47 Going to a new year, it's an excellent occasion to look back for your other Norwegian as well.
06:53 What was it about Oscar Bob that made you think that I need this player in my squad and I will give him the chance in the start of the season?
07:01 What I said to Oscar for many times.
07:04 So, always he plays, he plays at a high level.
07:07 I see him in the training session every day, his impact is really good, his work ethic, many, many things.
07:12 We are really, really pleased with Oscar.
07:14 So, he's not a player like come up, come down for the academy and it's already a reality for us.
07:20 And in certain moments, you know, he's going to help us.
07:25 Maybe the answer is very obvious, but still.
07:29 In those circumstances, in Belgrade, when he did that performance, he scored that goal.
07:36 Try to describe what that means to a player that's waiting for his breakthrough.
07:41 He proves himself that he can do it.
07:45 With the performance as well, it's so important how your mates can rely on you, especially when you are young and come from the academy.
07:53 And have incredible behaviour, playing or not playing, always ready.
08:00 He's a lovely guy and we are really pleased.
08:06 So, what can I say? He's young, there's still a lot of margin to improve, but really pleased he's here with us.
08:12 OK, thank you.
08:14 [Applause]