MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Pep Guardiola insisted on Friday (Jan 11) he will be happy if Manchester City have no time for a mid-season break, because it will mean they are still competing for every trophy.
City's rivals Manchester United took the opportunity this week for a warm-weather training trip to Dubai, allowing boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer time to work on his squad's fitness.
Guardiola did take his players to Abu Dhabi last March, after their surprise FA Cup fifth round defeat at Wigan left them with a free week.
The City boss will consider a similar trip this time round if an early FA Cup exit leaves a gap in their match schedule.
But he acknowledges that it may be difficult to fit in such a break if City remain in the hunt for all four major prizes.
"Hopefully not, because that means we continue in the FA Cup and especially in the Champions League. We will see. If not, then we will have this time in summer time," Guardiola told a press conference.
"Last season, it was quite similar. But then after Wigan beat us in the FA Cup, we went there."
City are still in contention for a quadruple of Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup titles, something that has never been achieved in the English game.
They took a significant step towards winning one of those trophies on Wednesday, thrashing third tier Burton Albion 9-0 in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final.
It means that, barring something extraordinary in the second leg on January 23, City will feature in the final at Wembley on Feb 24.
That creates another barrier to a potential winter vacation as their league fixture at Everton, scheduled for the previous day, would have to be rearranged.
"Did you see the schedule this morning? I saw the schedule, and the Everton game will be fixed for another week, so we don't have many (spaces in the schedule for a warm-weather break), so we'll see," Guardiola said.
TITLE RACE
City, having taken a step towards a cup final, resume their attempt to catch leaders Liverpool in the Premier League title race on Monday, when they host Wolves.
Guardiola's side, in second place, are four points behind Liverpool after beating them 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Jan 3.
It was Liverpool's first league defeat of the season, and may have increased the pressure on a team trying to become champions of England for the first time since 1990.
But Guardiola rejected the suggestion that he is happier chasing than leading.
"I prefer to be in Liverpool's position," he said.
Guardiola hopes to have Sergio Aguero back for the Wolves match, with the striker having missed City's past two matches because of illness, while Vincent Kompany is close to recovering from a muscle problem.
City have found it tough keeping pace with Liverpool, despite collecting 50 points from 21 games, a better average this season than Barcelona, who are top of La Liga.
Barcelona have collected 40 points from 18 games, an average of 2.22 per match, while City's average of 2.38 is currently only good enough for second place.
"The Premier League is incredibly tough," he said. You don't realise how tough it is until you are here for the amount of games, the weather, the time needed for players to recover."
Qatar coach to 'isolate' team from Gulf politics at Asian Cup With the dispute now into its nineteenth month, the Asian Cup is the most high-profile sporting competition so far between the
Qatar coach to 'isolate' team from Gulf politics at Asian Cup
Signs of Manchester United revival in loss to City: Wes Brown But former United defender Wes Brown saw a glimmer of hope, one that could spark a reversal of fortunes and hopefully propel the
Dua Signs Of Manchester United Revival In Loss To City: Wes Brown
gedco.net/dua/Signs-of-Manchester-United-revival-in-loss-to-City:-Wes-Brown/
Source: Manchester Evening News Signs Of Manchester United Revival In Loss To City: Wes Brown. Read Signs Of Manchester United Revival In Loss To City: Wes Brown by Manchester Evening News
Football: Guardiola hails 'legend' Aguero as Man City inch
'Electric' Sterling has boss purring LONDON • When Raheem Sterling grew up within the shadow of Wembley, he would ride around on his bike marvelling at the gleaming stadium, dreaming of playing there.
Garage Heaters - Heaters - The Home Depot
Newport dealing with fallout from fraud allegations. Newport's city manager believes in her city's future following the collapse of projects promised by Jay Peak owner
Newport County: Justin Edinburgh dedicates win to Byron
Thanks for watching ! SUBSCRIBE to receive more videos for free. Rockets aim to keep momentum HOUSTON - After the Houston Rockets easily downed the San Antonio Spurs, James Harden was asked about
Nuggets aim to keep momentum going in Game 5 vs. Trail Blazers
Soccer Football - FA Cup Third Round - Manchester United v Reading - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - January 5, 2019 Manchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the match REUT
Solskjaer unimpressed as United ease past Reading in Cup
Messi backs Guardiola's City for success. Manchester City will continue to grow more under Pep Guardiola. Barca put City to the sword in a 4-0 Champions League rout on matchday three and
Manchester City are Premier League champions: How Pep
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola just as delighted with defence as attack after Burnley rout. It is now five games, and more than 500 minutes, since City conceded a league goal
Pep Guardiola names two simple ways Man City can STILL
Liverpool and Arsenal favourites to miss out on a place in the Premier League's top four With the top six in the Premier League already beginning to establish themselves, Callum Rice-Coates
Why Arsenal Are the Favourites To Win the Premier League
Chelsea sweat on Kante fitness for Europa League final. By. AFP - May 29, 2019 10:39 AM. N'Golo Kante is a doubtful starter in the final of the Europa League against Arsenal in Baku, Azerbaijan
Chelsea sweat on Kante fitness for Europa League final- The
Gareth Southgate hailed 'electric' Raheem Sterling after the England star terrorised Czech Republic at Wembley. The Manchester City attacker scored a hat-trick as England produced a breathtaking
Raheem Sterling And Leroy Sane Are Purring At Manchester City
V-Varen Nagasaki vs Albirex Niigata LIVE Stream# Short Preview Enjoy watching a meeting between a mid-table team and a leading team (ranked 12 and 8). V-Varen Nagasaki is in poor shape (in the last 5 games wins - 1).
Albirex Niigatas [SIN] vs Brunei DPMM Betting odds
Real Madrid They say you should never go back. However, Mourinho has shown in the past that such an adage is one he has no time for, demonstrated by his return to Chelsea for a second stint after departing Real Madrid in May 2013.
Sacked Mourinho will be next Real Madrid - mirror.co.uk
Malta were happy to sit back on the edge of their area and defend for most of the game, but the visitors found a way through in the 31st minute when Morata latched onto a long ball and sent his
Alvaro Morata double helps much-changed Spain ease past Malta
0 comments:
Post a Comment