Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola previews their huge Premier League clash with Arsenal and their early season title hopes
Etihad Training Campus, Manchester, UK
Etihad Training Campus, Manchester, UK
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00:00Hi Pep, first of all, can you just update us on Kevin De Bruyne please, and if he'll be fit?
00:07He feels today a little bit better, but not yet. Two years off, tomorrow we're training and we'll see.
00:15So he could be a quality player?
00:17Could be.
00:19I know it's very early in the season, but what can you learn about your team, about Arsenal,
00:27by playing in a game of this magnitude at this point?
00:31Always have been tight games last year, apparently because I think we are a good team, but they are good too.
00:39They do many, many good things in all aspects, high pressing, defending deep, transitions.
00:45It's a complete, absolutely complete team, that's why they have been the biggest rival in the last two seasons.
00:52Early stage of the season I would say, so nothing more than the mood for the next games, the influence for the next games.
01:05But in terms of table and everything, it's not much important.
01:09It will be important when we go to London in the second part of the season.
01:14Hi Pep, obviously Arsenal have been one of your closest challengers in recent times.
01:19Do you feel that they are at their strongest now that they've ever been, when you've been going head-to-head?
01:25Every season is stronger, yeah.
01:27Deeper squad, add more and more players and top quality.
01:32Every season is even better and even better.
01:36What have you seen as a key development in Michael Artes' side that makes you believe that they are...?
01:41You can ask him, because if I say something, they will say that I'm playing mind games or something like that.
01:48Because I have a high opinion about him, his team.
01:51Everybody knows that he grew up as a team year by year, so there's no doubt about that.
01:57Both years have been close, but we have been so strong as well, and still we are strong and looking forward to the game.
02:06You can play mind games if you want to.
02:08No, I am not good at that.
02:11When you won the title last season, Rodri was asked what the difference between City and Arsenal was,
02:18and he said he felt it came down to mentality.
02:21When he played in the March, he said,
02:26I saw them and said, these guys don't want to beat us, they just want to draw.
02:31He said, that mentality, I don't think we would do it the same way.
02:34Do you feel there's still a difference mentality-wise?
02:38No.
02:39You don't agree with Rodri?
02:42And Arsenal, do you think there's been a growth in where they're at?
02:45But not now, four years ago.
02:47No.
02:48In recent years, we've seen quite a lot of high-scoring games between the teams at the top of the table.
02:57Last year, you and Arsenal, it was 1-0 and 0-0.
03:01Do you think that's maybe the way things are going to go more, or are you expecting something similar?
03:07Similar.
03:08And do you feel there's a trend in football back towards those top games being really, really tight?
03:16To score goals, you can score from many different aspects.
03:22In the set-piece, it's not easy because they are so tall, taller than us.
03:25In the transitions, her backwards are quicker than our transitions, offensive.
03:31And when we are able to set them back, and they are so strong defensively,
03:35they accumulate a lot of players that the modern football, the strikers forget about it.
03:39To go to the strikers, they go to the holding midfielders.
03:42So the gap between the spaces, we saw against Inter.
03:45So they defend the space.
03:47They have incredible defensively with the runners in the channels inside,
03:52being defensive with the people in the middle.
03:55So Saliba and Gabriel, they are incredibly focused with just hurling all the time.
04:00So it's not one against one, it's always two against one, sometimes three against one.
04:06So that's why it's difficult to attack them.
04:09So they didn't, I think in 24, they didn't lose away.
04:12I think they draw just one game against us, and they won it.
04:16So it's not just one game or two games.
04:20There are many games, they are solid, consistent in that.
04:23They don't concede goals, and they didn't, the opponents, create much options of that.
04:27So that's why you have to try to read well the way we have to do it.
04:30And at the same time, I'm looking forward.
04:32I'm looking forward to play the game.
04:35And in every game, it's a chance to get him better or play better
04:38or do it better than the game before.
04:40And as much you play with the opponent, they are consistent in doing similar things.
04:44Always you have a chance to improve some aspects.
04:47So it's a chance for us.
04:49We play at home, and hopefully we can do a good performance.
05:02I'm so sorry for him.
05:03I like to play with the biggest, the toughest squad.
05:07Of course, he's an important player.
05:09But when year by year, Arsenal is getting better,
05:13it's because they invest a lot with a deeper squad,
05:16to have more players' ability.
05:18When you have, during the long, long season, you have problems
05:21with the injured suspensions, bad forms or whatever,
05:23and always you have a deeper squad, it helps you to notice.
05:26But he's a captain from Arsenal, and everybody knows how important
05:29and how good player, an exceptional player he is.
05:33And also, there's been some talk in the room before the game now
05:36that you've played home against Inter on Wednesday,
05:38while Arsenal had to go to Baigamu, Atlanta, for the away game on Thursday,
05:43with the difference in restitution and all these kind of things.
05:46What is your take on that?
05:48It's an advantage, but I'm going to make a list in the last six years
05:51how many times we were in disadvantage against tough opponents
05:54when we had less days of recovery.
05:57I have a huge list to show you.
05:59But of course, it's a little bit of an advantage.
06:03Arsenal signed Raheem Sterling on deadline day last year.
06:06I think it came as a bit of a surprise to some people.
06:09What will he bring to that sort of decision?
06:11Well, I heard Mikel say it was a surprise to him as well.
06:13He didn't expect to hire Raheem.
06:16So, I wish him all the best.
06:18I say it many times.
06:19For all the players that behave unbelievably in this club,
06:22that help us unbelievably to be who we are, to where we are.
06:27So, we cannot understand the first period, the first years.
06:31In my tenure here, in our tenure here, in our time here without Raheem.
06:35So, it has been so important.
06:36I wish him all the best.
06:38Of course, I prefer don't perform well tomorrow than Sunday.
06:42But of course, I wish him all the best.
06:45Pep, I know you've been an advocate for the highest quality games
06:49and for ensuring players get enough rest and recovery.
06:53Rodri came out with comments saying players are probably closer
06:58to striking than ever with the increased amount of games.
07:00And then there have been a lot of other players who have come out
07:03and echoed his sentiments.
07:05Just wanted to get your feelings on that.
07:08Well, I'm agree with you.
07:10Maybe for the first time.
07:15That many, many voices are talking about the players.
07:18I'm pretty sure of that.
07:20If something is going to change, it always must come from the players.
07:24The only ones can change something is about the organisation
07:27to take a voice and do something.
07:29That business can be without managers, can be without sports directors,
07:35can be without media, can be without owners.
07:40But without the players, it cannot be played.
07:43So, the only ones who have power to do it are them.
07:48And also, I'm pretty sure they do it to make it a justice game,
07:50to be a more attractive game.
07:52And that's the reason why I think not just Rodri,
07:54but many, many players.
07:56I would say not just in this country,
07:59but all around the world, people are starting to talk.
08:02We'll see.
08:05Pep, you've not lost a home now since the Renfrew game in November 2013.
08:11Sorry?
08:12You've not lost an empty house in the league since the Renfrew game,
08:15just before the World Cup.
08:17I don't like this type of questions.
08:20You did it against Renfrew.
08:22If you did it against Renfrew, I don't know what would happen.
08:24So, I advise you to change the subject.
08:28You have time.
08:30Is there a reason why you want to stay in the league?
08:33Why are you playing so well at home?
08:35I know you win matches all the time.
08:37Listen, of course it's a good record.
08:39To win the Premier League that we won in the last years,
08:41four in a row, you have to make incredible results at home,
08:43incredible results away.
08:45Otherwise, you cannot win.
08:47The contenders we had in Liverpool and Arsenal in the last years
08:50is above 90 points.
08:53So, I remember in the 1890s, people didn't do 90 points.
08:57So, we have to do a lot of points at home.
09:00In the bad moments, we win games.
09:01In the bad performances, we win games.
09:03And on both sides.
09:04In Etihad and away from Etihad.
09:08Hi Pep.
09:09Obviously, Phil was missing at the time, right?
09:11He's come back now.
09:12Has he benefited from that, right?
09:15Who, Phil?
09:16Phil Foden, yeah.
09:19Every player needs a break, rest.
09:23And have some disturbing in the last weeks.
09:26But, yeah, he played a good 45 minutes in the last game.
09:29He was the best player in the league last season.
09:31So, of course we need him to make competition
09:34and fight with the other midfield players, other wingers.
09:37Yeah, it's important he's back.
09:39And he played good minutes.
09:41Unfortunately, the final decision was not a little bit more calm,
09:45you know, to take it.
09:46But, yeah, his intensity and pressing
09:49and his movement in the small pockets
09:52is one of the best of the world.
09:54So that's why we are very pleased.
09:56He's pleased.
09:57You can imagine how pleased I am that he's back.
10:00Are you ready to play 19?
10:01Yeah, I think so.
10:03One more before the embargo, guys.
10:05With Simon, just in front of you.
10:08I know you said it's not as important, this game,
10:10as the one at half-time later in the season.
10:14With the chance to go five points ahead...
10:17No, no, I'm saying it's so important.
10:19We do not take it...
10:21It's important, the game against Arsenal,
10:22in terms of you're going to win or lose the Premier League.
10:25It's not.
10:26After five games, it's never important.
10:28But if we don't think Arsenal, with the quality they have,
10:34is not important, we'll be wrong.
10:37But, I mean, we will certainly make a lot of it
10:39if, you know, whoever wins.
10:42Is it something that you sort of lean into
10:44while trying to get the players not to think about it?
10:47About the result, about the five points ahead.
10:50Of course, why should I tell them if they know it?
10:53So they see a table, two in front, they win five, yeah.
10:57So we draw two, so they know it.
11:00But I think it's not a motivation,
11:02oh, I've got to win, I've got five points in front,
11:04in a five fixture.
11:06You just have to do a good game, what you have to do.
11:08And, of course, there are many aspects,
11:10because sometimes they setbacks, sometimes they make high pressing,
11:13but sustain this high pressing for a long time.
11:15Sometimes they sustain a long time,
11:18and try to avoid set-pieces,
11:22because I think statistically,
11:27and I don't think statistically it's the best team in the world,
11:29but the world, in terms of corner-streak,
11:32is how good they work.
11:35So, yeah, many things you have to pay attention to.