Guardiola on transfers, West Ham and England squad - audio issue for first question
30/08/2024
CGA City academy, Manchester, UK
30/08/2024
CGA City academy, Manchester, UK
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00:30He has been on the squad as a whole.
00:57He needs one minute.
01:01No more than that to settle.
01:07Everybody knows it.
01:08He's a good player, top-class player, and he knows the mechanics, what we try to do,
01:15what we try to leave altogether.
01:18We knew it and it happened.
01:22In terms of this weekend, it's early days for Julen Lopetegui in charge of West Ham,
01:26but how do you see them evolving as a side?
01:29Are they a different prospect this year around?
01:31New managers, new places, always needs time.
01:35An experienced manager, so being in Real Madrid and our national team from Spain and alongside
01:42another club, Sevilla, it's a demanding place, so having a lot of experience, he's an unbelievable
01:49person.
01:52So West Ham, what they already had, a really, really good squad, and this transfer this
02:01summer brings new, new top players, and especially up front, physicality, especially up front,
02:11they have an incredible weapon, it's a really strong team.
02:17I have to ask, although I think I know the answer, you're expecting a very quiet deadline
02:21day?
02:22Yeah.
02:23I thought so.
02:24What's more of a priority for you at nine o'clock tomorrow morning, preparing for West
02:27Ham or Oasis tickets?
02:29Absolutely West Ham.
02:33Will you be in the queue?
02:34Oasis?
02:35I don't know, if we can go, we'll go, absolutely.
02:41So it's good news, I think, for the world music, so they are back, so it's fantastic
02:48for the 1,000 million fans they have around the world, especially here in England, in
02:52the UK.
02:53So, yeah, really good.
02:55The Ballon d'Or voting opens next week, there's plenty of Manchester City players that perhaps
03:01will be expected to be in the shortlist, but of all outstanding players, perhaps Rodri
03:07and I know you love your midfielders, perhaps just a word on why he is expected to be in
03:13the top three, maybe, if not win it?
03:15I would love to, one player win this award for the players means a lot, so I would love
03:21it.
03:22But I think I said many times, just being in contention or being there means that the
03:26club and individually and collectively have done a good season, but there are a lot of
03:32good teams with good players as well, so hopefully it's happened, but it's not in my hands.
03:37We know the strikers often win, but given Rodri's run of unbeaten games, how important
03:42he was to Manchester City, is it maybe time now that a midfielder wins it this time round?
03:48It would be the light, he deserves it, but I guess maybe another one deserves it too,
03:54so the people vote.
03:56So Rodri has made not just this, but many, many seasons, and the previous season of course
04:00was really, really good with the Premier League and especially in the Euros, winning with
04:06Spain, but there are players who also did a good season.
04:09Pep, obviously the transfer window has been difficult for lots of different clubs for
04:16different reasons.
04:17I know with Julian Alvarez leaving, you spoke a couple of weeks ago about looking for a
04:22player at some point to come in and fill that and maybe challenge Erling up front.
04:27With this window specifically, was it just a case of the fact that the right player wasn't
04:31available?
04:32Was it a case of the club needing more time because the Alvarez deal happened later?
04:36What's the situation with that?
04:37I'm happy with the squad.
04:39So within the spec Julian was leaving, but in the spec I don't know because he had conversations
04:46for a long time ago with other clubs, his agent, so it could happen, but at the end
04:50always you think maybe he's going to stay, but it didn't happen.
04:53And after we saw, but we have, of course you have many, many injuries, it would be a problem,
04:58but hopefully in two, three months it's back, Oscar, and fill that position and Makati can
05:06play in that position, Gundogan can play in that position, Bernardo can play in that
05:09position, different type of players, like Erling of course.
05:13So maybe it's a mistake, I don't know, but I like to work with not a long, long, long
05:18squad.
05:19I don't like to leave a lot of players without playing for a long, long time.
05:22When you have a long squad and no injuries, it's ten months without playing and I don't
05:26like it.
05:27And always I feel when everybody's involved and with the chance to play, the performance
05:32of the team is always better, and that's why I prefer.
05:35I know the group, I know how serious and professional they are, and commitment in every
05:41single game, and we decide to go.
05:43You're right, when we are not pretty, pretty, pretty sure it's better, wait.
05:48In winter we have, just in case happen, we have another chance, so if I'm not convinced
05:54and Chiqui's not convinced, it's better don't take that step.
05:59We saw the England squad announced yesterday, first I guess a word on Rico Lewis and Jack
06:03Grealish getting themselves back in the squad, I mean Rico's had a fantastic pre-season and
06:07fantastic start to the season, you must be delighted to see him recognised by England.
06:11Absolutely, he deserved it for him, I'm so happy for him, yeah, really, really happy.
06:17But Kyle Walker, I suppose one of the big names not to be selected, have you spoken
06:22to him?
06:23No, but when he'll be back, he's best, he will be soon, and always he's an incredible
06:29weapon for the national team to be used, because having specific qualities, that is
06:34really, really beneath, so.
06:36But of course it was late, and after, still arrived with some niggles and problems, and
06:44Rico was playing really good, with the pre-season, the rhythm is higher than then, because it
06:48was in holidays, and that's why he's in the position, but you know, also there are many,
06:56many games in the national team as well, and with his physicality, if his desire is going
07:02there, he has a chance to come back.
07:04He just performed well to play here, and the hope of the national team will be open.
07:08Because Kyle obviously has that seniority, lots of experience, but this season, is Rico
07:12pushing him as close as he ever has done in terms of that place in the team?
07:15It's a different type of play, so what Rico gives to the team, Kyle cannot give us, and
07:21what Kyle gives to us, Rico cannot do it, so.
07:26That is what it's about, it's not a long, long, big squad, but everyone pushes each
07:31other, you know, to win positions, that is the only way.
07:35Hi Pep, about your future, I appreciate it must be tiring to receive those questions
07:41regularly, but just to try to understand your rationale on either deciding to stay or to
07:46go, does it come from within, you think, this decision, or are you waiting to see the body
07:53language of the squad throughout the next months?
07:55I answered this question in the first days, and it's over.
08:12Hi Pep, I'm reading in the last book by Martà Peranau, if I'm pronouncing this correctly,
08:18about the impact that Erling had on the dressing room when he first arrived there two years
08:23ago, that he changed the dressing room atmosphere a little bit.
08:29How is his social role in the group right now, two years later?
08:33A little bit higher, a little bit higher, so he knows the environment, the players,
08:41how we live, but it's normal.