Pep Guardiola sends damning message to Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta with ‘failure’ jibe
Manchester City have lost ground on title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool after a tough winless run but manager Pep Guardiola knows what is expected of his team in their title defence
It wasn’t quite as brutal as Jose Mourinho calling Arsene Wenger a specialist in failure – but the message Pep Guardiola has sent to Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp is just as damning.
The Manchester City boss believes his team’s unrivalled excellence over the last seven seasons means they are judged to a higher standard than rivals like Arsenal and Liverpool. Winning, according to Guardiola, is now seen as the only option for a club that has lifted five Premier League titles in six seasons – while for other managers it is allowed to be the exception.
“City should win. That isn’t fair. It’s difficult to handle every week, every three days, during years and years.
“(What we have done) is exceptional, but their positions are normal. Just look at our rivals, who want to win once, while for us it’s important to always be there – and we have to continue that.
“Bad moments are there, so I never believe in the big compliments and I never believe in the bad situations. In football and in sporting life, the most difficult thing is to win and win and win.
“We have done it for many years, where we were the main candidates to win everything. When we went out in the Champions League semi-finals it was a big disaster because it wasn’t up to our levels. What it meant to us it didn’t mean for others, my friends. Not at all.”
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Klopp has one title and two second-placed finishes to show for his eight years at Anfield. Arteta was handed heartbreak when his Arsenal team collapsed under the pressure of City’s perfect form in last season’s run-in.
City face Luton at Kenilworth Road with Guardiola bullish about his team’s prospects of another New Year surge to glory despite a churn to his squad that was more vigorous than he had planned. Ilkay Gundogan rejected a new contract to join Barcelona, while Riyad Mahrez opted to seek another fortune in Saudi Arabia.
Aymeric Laporte and Cole Palmer were allowed to leave, leaving Guardiola needing to bed new signings Josko Gvardiol, Jeremy Doku, Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic into his team. Injury to Kevin De Bruyne and two suspensions for Rodri have caused further issues.
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But Guardiola warned: “I’ve got a lot of trust in myself. I will help the team – I don’t know how but I’ll help the team to come back. Will it be enough? I don’t know, the contenders are so strong.
“The consistency of Arsenal over the past two seasons has been amazing and Liverpool are back – and I knew it from day one. I need to step back to realise ‘come on Pep, wake up, there’s something wrong’.
“But the Premier League is not lost. Six points? Okay. Arsenal’s consistency might be a worry but it’s not the end of the world.
“That’s why we have to be positive in our minds and the players have to show me they want to accept and embrace the challenge. That’s what I want to see. It’s a good warning for me. If I’m not able to do it, the club will decide what to do. In the end you have to get results.”
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Liverpool in talks to finally sign £55.8million ‘fantastic’ player – Report
In the summer transfer window, Liverpool targeted the signing of Joao Palhinha to replace Fabinho, but ended up signing Endo from Stuttgart.
The Japanese international is not a strong defensive midfielder and it was evident from his display against a physical side like Crystal Palace yesterday. Moreover, he is also not as good as a deep lying playmaker as Fabinho.
News – Klopp pressing to secure January signing for Liverpool and £25million star is priority – Report
Thiago and Bajcetic remain injury prone and the former’s current contract at Anfield will expire in just over six months.
Therefore, Jurgen Klopp is still looking to properly reinforce the No. 6 position in the midfield and once again, the name of Palhinha is in the focus.
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have held talks with the agent of the Portuguese international, who has been a rock solid DM in England since joining Fulham from Sporting CP last year.
The Seleccao midfielder was close to joining Bayern Munich in the summer but the Germans were unable to complete the formalities on time.
The news source have mentioned that the Cottagers will demand the same fee that they agreed in August to sell him to the Bavaria
Klopp brushes off leading the Premier League midway through the season
Back in October, retired Welsh footballer, Robbie Savage, claimed that Palhinha is a ‘fantastic’ player, who would be an ideal signing for Jurgen Klopp (BBC).
He made the highest number of tackles in the Premier League last season and remains a key player for Fulham and the Portugal side.
The question is, would he be a long term fix? Palhinha will turn 29 in July next year. Should Liverpool bid £55.8million to finally sign him?
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