Guardiola: New signings can make their careers at City | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola said our January signings can have big futures at Manchester City after encouraging starts at the Etihad Stadium.

Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush and Nico joined the squad in the most recent transfer window while Argentinian midfielder Claudio Echeverri is set to join up with the squad.

Three of those five players featured in our clash with Liverpool at the weekend and while the 2-0 scoreline was disappointing, Guardiola said there was a lot of positives in the performance.

They will be in consideration for our Premier League clash with Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday at 19:30 (UK).

And Guardiola says they can look at the career of Kevin De Bruyne as an inspiration for what can be achieved by joining City at a young age.

“I’m a big supporter that when you sign players it’s better to find them young and make their career,” the City boss said.

“When Kevin came here, when he came here to do what he’s done, he came to do it here. The club prefers that than buying a player to come for the last years.

“We will see how they behave, the players [can be] here a long time and the young ones, game-by-game, and try to finish what we want to do and prepare the next seasons.”

Uzbekistan international Khusanov’s move to the Etihad has been made harder by the language barrier.

But Guardiola says he is having English lessons and has been encouraged by his speed and strength.

“We push him to take lessons every day,” he added. “As much as possible of course it's important to communicate.

“I would say when we speak English properly, do we communicate much, I don’t think so. But to understand the game and what he has to do, it’s fine.”

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On starting against Liverpool, Pep said: “[Ruben Dias] came from an injury and we wanted a bit more pace from Khusanov, and a left foot on the left side.

“Ruben is massively important for us as a player and a character and many things. He’s been a key point for that period, an important player, but sometimes I decide, and I decided for other players.”

Guardiola says he needs the full-squad as we chase as high as finish as possible in the Premier League and the FA Cup, followed by the Club World Cup in the summer.

“We need everyone for the end of the season, absolutely everyone,” he said. “I will decide for this lineup tomorrow, but for another one, we need everyone.

“We are part of that and of course in the next one, two, three years the players will be a little bit different. Everyone knows it.

“[Echeverri] will start to train, maybe for the end of the season or the Club World Cup but as soon as possible he’ll arrive and adapt quickly for the future.”