Guardiola on Wembley, Man Utd and a Double
- Published
Pep Guardiola has spoken to the media before the FA Cup final against Manchester United.
Here are the main lines from the Manchester City manager's news conference:
On the importance of a fast start after his side's 10-second opener at Wembley last season: "When you start well, you can score first and that is always important. We were better than United in the league but in one game and against a top-six team they always perform well."
All of City's squad is available bar goalkeeper Ederson.
On Xavi's exit from Barcelona: "Always it is not good news when a club sacks a manager because something didn鈥檛 work out but I don鈥檛 know the reasons."
On the the life of a manager at a big club: "We are exposed. In our job you have to win or you are in danger, no matter if you are new or old you have to win, otherwise it happens. But the people have to understand just one (can win). Does that mean all the others are failures? I don鈥檛 think so. I am not agreeing with that."
Speaking about the showpiece Wembley final, Guardiola said: "No teams have done four in a row, none have done back-to-back Doubles. That is because it is not easy. We are happy, satisfied. Saturday we will go for it with all we have. I want to be beaten because they were better, not because we weren't who we are."
On Erik ten Hag's struggles: "At big clubs like United or City if you don鈥檛 always win, you are in trouble. I would be in trouble if we don鈥檛 win. I have huge respect for his work in the past and then United. I completely agree when I listen to him and he says they did not have a full squad. I think the squad is really good but if you cannot use the players, the manager suffers a lot."
Speaking about Manchester City's dominance over their neighbours over the last decade, Guardiola offered a nod to history, stating: "We respect United, always like that for their history. In the last decade we have been better but in terms of history, of course, you have to respect them massively."
On the prospect of a domestic Double in successive seasons: "The fact we can do back-to-back Doubles is important of course. But the FA Cup is the FA Cup. The players know it is the last game of season. We are focused, everyone will be part of it and we will do our best."