Guardiola on City fitness latest ahead of Brighton trip
Guardiola on City fitness latest ahead of Brighton trip
CGA, Manchester, UK
CGA, Manchester, UK
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 >> Good afternoon, guys.
00:10 Hope you're all staying processed.
00:11 There are mics on either side.
00:12 If you can raise your hands, let us know you'd like to ask a question.
00:15 As many of you as possible.
00:16 Set an embargo partway through for 10.30 this evening.
00:19 Start with Simon, please.
00:21 >> Thank you.
00:22 Hi, Pep.
00:24 >> Just to start with, could you update us on the fitness of Erling Haaland and Phil Foden and John Stones, please?
00:33 >> Erling is not ready for tomorrow.
00:37 And the other two, they are ready.
00:41 >> You've said over the last few weeks that this has been your toughest season in terms of, like, getting teams on the pitch.
00:51 Why is that?
00:52 Just because of the weight of injuries, accumulation of matches, coming back after winning the treble?
00:58 >> The matches have been quite similar, like previous seasons.
01:01 When you arrive in the last stages, always quite similar.
01:03 Of course, we have the World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
01:05 But I would say it's quite easy.
01:09 Have a lot of problems, important players with injuries and new players set up.
01:13 And, of course, after winning the treble and things.
01:20 But still, we are there.
01:21 So, we won two titles this season.
01:24 We are in the final of the FA Cup.
01:26 We arrived in the last stages in the Champions League and Premier League.
01:29 >> I know you would have wanted to beat Real Madrid.
01:32 But if someone had said to you in August that you will get to almost the end of April and you will still be favourites for the title and be in the FA Cup final, would you have thought that was a good return?
01:44 >> Yeah.
01:45 I would have signed.
01:47 So, the only way to arrive in the last stages depends, you know, you can arrive until the end and in one week you can lose all titles.
01:56 So, it always happens like that.
01:59 But the team, again, behaved unbelievably.
02:02 Really, really unbelievable this season again.
02:05 >> Can I just ask, you said that obviously Erling is missing again for this game.
02:09 How severe is his problem?
02:11 Do you know roughly when he may be available?
02:13 >> No, it's not what I am concerned.
02:17 I know it's not a big issue.
02:19 But it's not allowed for this game.
02:22 >> When you look at this stage of the season and every match, obviously it counts at every stage.
02:27 But at this particular stage there is so much in every game.
02:30 Is this the part of the year that you enjoy the most?
02:36 >> Yes, he has enjoyed the most, yeah.
02:39 But always in November, December, I always enjoy it too.
02:42 Every game is adrenaline, every game is important.
02:45 But, yeah, that is decisive.
02:48 Now every mistake or every step back is more difficult.
02:53 But it is what it is.
02:55 We have been here last year fortunately many times.
02:59 So, that's what we know we are playing for.
03:01 >> Does this stage bring out the best in you as well, do you feel?
03:04 >> I would say the best for the players is important.
03:06 I don't play.
03:08 So, important is the players have to be the best.
03:11 >> Can I just ask you about Roberto Di Zerbi as well?
03:13 You have spoken about your admiration for him many times.
03:16 The more that you face him, does it get easier or does it get harder the more you know each other?
03:20 >> Harder.
03:22 Admiration is growing up every season.
03:24 So, they have a lot of problems.
03:26 Important players were sold and like Caldwell at Macalester, Catedral.
03:37 So, they are really, really important players for us.
03:39 They have a lot of injuries.
03:41 They play through competitions.
03:43 But the way they play always is there.
03:45 Always is there.
03:47 So, he has done an incredible job in Brighton.
03:55 >> Thank you.
03:57 >> Hi, Pep.
03:59 Given the amount of games you have had so far in such a short period of time,
04:04 is the Brighton game tomorrow a good opportunity to maybe rotate a few that you have kept playing in all these games?
04:10 >> I don't know what it means to rotate.
04:12 Every player can play and deserves to play.
04:14 I know for every mindset, for every person, have his start 11 or the February players.
04:19 Everyone has seen contribution of that.
04:22 So, now we have had three or four days, you know, the last game against Chelsea.
04:31 So, tomorrow is one of the toughest games of the season.
04:35 Brighton away, if you put in my calendar, is one of the toughest ones for the way they play.
04:40 >> I am just wondering if you could get your thoughts on the news that came out of Nottingham Forest recently,
04:46 questioning the integrity of refereeing in this country itself.
04:50 I don't know, what did you feel when you heard them coming out with stuff like that?
04:54 >> Absolutely disagree.
04:57 As always, there are a big, big, I would say, in every league in the world,
05:02 these kind of things happen more and more.
05:07 But, of course, never doubt about that.
05:13 >> Just to clarify, you have got no doubts over any questions around...
05:16 >> Absolutely not.
05:18 Referees want to do the job the best as possible.
05:21 Of course, they feel the pressure.
05:24 We put pressure on the managers, on them, that it is for the passion of the game, for the moment.
05:32 But when I am sitting here, reflecting afterwards, they try to do the best.
05:37 They are screwed, you know, the cameras are there.
05:41 So, when they make a mistake, like we did a mistake, they feel bad.
05:44 So, it is normal.
05:46 Of course, when they do the job, they want to do it well.
05:49 But it is a game that is so difficult, complicated, it is fast, it is quick.
05:55 The decision has to be made in one instant.
05:59 So, it is not easy going.
06:03 >> And obviously, this is coming from someone like you, of your stature.
06:06 Do you feel like overall, as a collective of clubs,
06:10 we need to have a better approach when it comes to reactions around refereeing?
06:15 >> Right now?
06:17 >> Yeah, and in general as well.
06:20 >> I talk of my club.
06:23 Absolutely, absolutely we are.
06:26 We are here to do our job.
06:30 So, accepting our mistakes and our problems.
06:34 >> Is there an embargo for 10.30 this evening?