The Premier League Update- Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has claimed, finishing runners up in the English top-flight is better than winning major cup wins in England. The Blue side of Manchester is in the semi-finals of the FA Cup this season where they will face Arsenal. Guardiola, who has guided City to win Carabao Cup in the last three years, has understated the value of that trophy in comparison with the Premier League runners up medal.
Guardiola had told Sky Sports ahead on Saturday’s trip to Brighton
“This organization wants to win titles. Of course, this is not the perfect satisfaction. However, the recognition that our opposition was incredible in this competition and we were not on that level.”
“Cannot deny that this target is better than the FA Cup winner, the Carabao Cup winners, or the others and qualification for the Champions League. All other clubs are fighting for it too. We were not the best, another team was, but we were better than the other 18 teams. It is the target to finish this season.”
What the Manchester City boss said about the end to the current season?
Premier League has allowed each team to have five substitutions every match instead of three after the Coronavirus lockdown. All the teams can have nine players on the bench until the rest of this campaign because of heavy schedules. All the teams are playing two games in a week to cover up to three months gap earlier this year.
“It has helped all the teams. This is because all the clubs have had a lack of preparation. They have just two or three weeks, which is not much to play every two or three days. In the last 20, 30 minutes, when you have a lack of preparation, you suffer. That extra subs rule helps to maintain players’ fitness.”
“Maybe next year if it happens, it will be good. You can travel with not just 18 players on the bench, but 20, as happened this season. Would be good for the health and mood of the team. Everybody feels involved and part of the team, and you can make more rotations, so it will be good.”
Guardiola also was full of praise for iconic Manchester City playmaker David Silva after City’s 5-0 demolition of Newcastle United at home. The 34-year-old scored a beautiful free-kick and set up two goals for Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling in the match. Jesus scored his 19th goal of this campaign ending a nine-game goal drought.
What next in the Premier League for the Cityzens?
The Brazilian needed to score in the absence of Sergio Aguero and he put in a fine display. David Silva will be leaving Etihad after this season-ending a successful ten years with the club. He will not have a proper send-off by the City fans because all games are currently being played behind the closed doors.
“Not the game today, which was incredible, but what he has done over ten years. When the people come back to the Etihad Stadium we will do a farewell game for one of the legends of this club. He is maybe the best in the small spaces. Moving between the lines I have never seen anyone like him. He has come back from lockdown in incredible form and rhythm. If he decides to play on he can play anywhere. There is no doubt about this.”
“I had no doubts about the Southampton game. There is also doubt about the way we played. However, this game is about winning. Now we have four weeks to finish second, score a lot of goals. We want to score goals, respect the football, and prepare well for Arsenal and [Real] Madrid.”
