LONDON • Pep Guardiola is not prepared to entertain any "fantasy" talk of an unprecedented quadruple despite Manchester City being the only English team still in the hunt for four trophies.
His men have booked their place in the League Cup final, where they will meet Chelsea on Feb 24, while they sit four points behind leaders Liverpool in the race for the Premier League title.
They will also return to Champions League action next month with a favourable last-16 draw against German Bundesliga side Schalke.
Today, City play Burnley at the Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup fourth round - the only domestic competition Guardiola has yet to win since taking over in 2016.
But, while their impressive form over the first half of the campaign has City supporters dreaming of success on a level yet to be achieved in English football, the manager was in no mood to entertain such prospects at his pre-match press conference yesterday.
The Spaniard told reporters: "We are able to try to win tomorrow. That is all I can assure you. Anything else is fantasy.
"Always we try to have a strong team. The fact it is against a Premier League (team) like Burnley, we are going to play with the best team to win the game, we believe."
4
Average goals per game Manchester City have netted in their last seven FA Cup matches in the third and fourth rounds.
ENGLISH FA CUP 4TH RD
SELECTED FIXTURES
YESTERDAY
Arsenal v Man United, Late kick-offTODAY
Accrington v Derby, Ch111, 8.30pm
Man City v Burnley, Ch111, 11pm
Newcastle v Watford, Ch112, 11pm
Shrewsbury v Wolves, Ch113, 11pm
Millwall v Everton, Ch111, tomorrow, 1.30amTOMORROW
Crystal Palace v Tottenham, Ch111, 11.55pm
Chelsea v Sheffield Wednesday, Ch111, Monday, 2am
All on Singtel TV
The 48-year-old, whose side were stunned by Wigan in the fifth round of the FA Cup last season, will not be taking any risks against Sean Dyche's men.
Despite fielding a host of youth-team players, including Philippe Sandler, Eric Garcia and Ian Poveda, in their midweek League Cup win over Burton Albion, Guardiola categorically ruled against using them for the second successive game.
Revealing "tomorrow, there will be no players from the academy", he said: "They have to be prepared just in case.
"But we now have everyone fit except Vinny (Kompany), everyone can play."
One senior player who did feature at the Pirelli Stadium was defender Benjamin Mendy, who came off the bench after two months out with a knee injury, and Guardiola confirmed that he was in line to play against the Clarets.
He also responded to the imminent sacking of his former player at Barcelona, Thierry Henry, who has been suspended by Monaco after a dismal three-month spell in charge of the French Ligue One club, claiming it was "not my business".
Guardiola added: "I don't understand it, but I'm not there when people take decisions.
"I know him well and I'm so sorry for him. He is an exceptional person."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
MAN CITY V BURNLEY
Singtel TV Ch111, 11pm
Paris (AFP) - Japan failed to break down a determined and well-organised Argentine defence in Paris on Monday in the first goalless draw of the women's World Cup. Japan, finalists in 2015 and winners in 2011, enjoyed almost two thirds of possession, but only forced two saves from goalkeeper Vanina Correa.
Watch Argentina v Japan live in the Fifa Women's World Cup
More than 3,000 bid farewell to Sala in Progreso, Football
Jason Momoa: 'It's Impossible' for Khal Drogo to Return for 'Game of Thrones' Final Season (Video) The eighth and final season of "Game of Thrones" will premiere in April 2019 on
GoT Schedule: How Many Game of Thrones Episodes Are Left
The official Liverpool FC website. The only place to visit for all your LFC news, videos, history and match information. Full stats on LFC players, club products, official partners and lots more.
Manchester City 3-1 Everton: Gabriel Jesus scores double and Raheem Sterling strikes late as hosts move back to the top of Premier League with win. Manchester City moved above Liverpool and back
Bayern forward Wagner makes China move after 'very attractive offer' Bayern Munich's back-up striker Sandro Wagner on Wednesday joined Tianjin Teda in the Chinese Super League (CSL) for a reported transfer fee of five million euros ($5.7m) and a hefty pay packet.
Klopp avoids title talk despite Arsenal rout Liverpool crushed Arsenal 5-1 to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday but manager Juergen Klopp still would not get involved in any talk of winning the title.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp avoids title talk despite
Manchester United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said the owners of Norwegian club Molde sent him to Old Trafford with their blessing and asked him to try to turn his temporary stint at
Molde owners will support me if I stay at Manchester United
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 22, 2019, with the headline 'Title cannot soothe PSG's pain in Europe'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
Title cannot soothe PSG's pain in Europe, Football News & Top
Hammers pack a punch: Klopp, Football News & Top Stories
Football: London-born ex-Arsenal reserve Nico Yennaris makes
worldsportstale.com/soccer/football-london-born-ex-arsenal-reserve-nico-yennaris-makes-china-debut-in-2-0-win-over-philippines/
06/07/2019 Comments Off on Football: London-born ex-Arsenal reserve Nico Yennaris makes China debut in 2-0 win over Philippines GUANGZHOU (AFP) - Nico Yennaris became the first foreign-born footballer to represent China when the former Arsenal reserve started in a 2-0 home win over the Philippines on Friday (June 7).
Football: London-born ex-Arsenal reserve Nico Yennaris makes
0 comments:
Post a Comment