📣 Guardiola on Walker and Stones fitness, Fernandinho and the title race | OneFootball

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Dan Burke·20 May 2022

📣 Guardiola on Walker and Stones fitness, Fernandinho and the title race

Article image:📣 Guardiola on Walker and Stones fitness, Fernandinho and the title race

Pep Guardiola spoke to reporters on Friday ahead of Manchester City’s season finale against Aston Villa.

Here is what he had to say.


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On Walker’s and Stones’s fitness

“We have incredible doctors. They make partial training, it’s good to have them back.”


On comparisons with the 2019 final day

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“I don’t have to tell them, they believe. Different opponents, different opponents. It’s not a similar game, we know what we have to do. Be ourselves, give everything we have to win the game.”


On final day anxiety

“It’s difficult to control emotions, you know what you’re playing for. We spoke about that, maybe you have to live something unexpected. React best as possible, if it’s over, it’s not over. When it’s over think it’s not over. Do exactly what we have done the last month, go for it.

“At the end, we play just a football game. We are not going to do something new. We arrive 2-3 hours before, we prepare vs Villa as we do always. Go to the plan and beat Aston Villa. At the end we can make theories but it’s just a football game. 11 players, a good manager. Apart from that we didn’t do different.

“Today we train, a normal PL game, northing special. Importance of the game, they feel it.”

On City’s will to win

“Before we won the first title, it would be the most incredible moment of our lives. The day after you feel, oh, the day after the sun rise and people start to demand more.

“Satisfaction is there, but after one, two days it’s forgotten. It has to be like that.

“It’s nice, we have incredible focus to try to do it. In the end, the feeling hasn’t changed much. We try to be ourselves, do what we need to do.

“Football is emotional, but it’s a game. The game means luck, a thousand things you cannot control. The way we play, most of the time we play to win, there are aspects we can’t control. If you want it you can’t control. Something can happen. Put it in the right manner, try of course, an incredible desire to win, we would be incredibly happy.

“After 1, 2, 3 days, we continue to start again.”


On the country being behind Liverpool

“I’m sure my English isn’t good after four, five years. I said in the time you arrive in the titles, the teams with more history have more supporters. It happens in Spain and Germany and Italy. We are outsiders in the last decade.

“In that moment, of course people don’t want Liverpool or us to win. Liverpool fans want to win, I’m not saying all the country are Liverpool fans but in general they are a team with more titles. Maybe I’m wrong, but in countries all around the world there are two, three teams people support more than the other ones.

“Liverpool, United, Arsenal have a lot of history, we are new, how many times we arrive in this history? Brighton, Paul Dickov, I don’t think so. It’s not much. It’s why we feel it’s a privilege and won’t waste this opportunity to enjoy the 95 minutes.”


On the chance to win the title at the Etihad

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“It’s good, I would prefer winning two days ago. It is what it is, important is being there, a chance to win a game to be champions. So nice, a privilege to arrive this stage.”


On why the Premier League is the most satisfying trophy

“Because it’s more difficult. A lot of weeks, a lot of games struggle with injuries, good and bad moments, different situations. The success is being there in the last few years. Liverpool were unstoppable that year and we were not good enough, the rest we were there.

“When you fight for the Premier League it gives the sense you enjoy the locker room. We are happier in our lives, when you win and win it makes good training and environment. It’s not just one single game like the FA Cup, it’s a consistent team.

“You want to change different things, experiences. In terms of Premier League, it’s more every day, it’s nice.”


On the Champions League

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“I’m not saying Champions League is not important. We’d love to be in Paris next week. Always to win 38 games, or 6-7 games is different. Always I like it, it’s nice. We are close.”


On Fernandinho’s farewell

“We are together since day one. He’s one of them, became captain. We experience many good moments and bad moments together. Generous guy, puts the team first over him. He knows it, I’m more than happy to have met him in my life and work together.

“We wish him all the best in the future and his last season in Brazil, maybe he will be a manager. I’m sure we’ll meet again in the future.”


On Liverpool’s pressure

“It’s not unexpected. I said a month ago, we need more than 90 points. The last 51 games Liverpool lost one. When you face this kind of team, you have to be good and win the last game. Otherwise with their results they are fantastic.”


On Grealish facing Aston Villa

“I didn’t speak with him. I can if you want? I’m sure he maybe helped for Villa to be promoted to the PL and remaining in the PL for two seasons. For him, never won the PL, he must be so excited.

“We’d be happy to have one, my advice to him is to be happy as possible playing football. The feeling after 2-3 days, all the effort, your name on the list [of honours]. If he’s comfortable getting better it’s the most important. In one year, we defend and be champions. Next year someone has to take it off us.

On Sunday, in one year we see if he retains it or plays every game next season, it’s nice.”


On Gerrard’s Liverpool connection

“It’s completely different, we cannot compare. We’re in different positions. Both teams try to win. Sometimes you can’t control. I said to the players it’s just a football game, don’t focus on anything else. If you think about it being one more title, it’s a football game.

“Ings and Watkins, how we face this process, Luiz as a holding midfielder, Digne moving inside or outside, this is what we think about.

“I’m sure our people will be as one. I have a feeling our supporters will be incredible. As a club we haven’t been here many times. Anxious, nervous? No way. If we concede or struggle, come on, try again, continue and do it. It’s the best way to approach this kind of situation. Not ‘what happens if we lose?’ What is the movement and set pieces of Villa? This is the only way, all that matters.”


On Gundogan departure rumours

“He got married, congratulations. I don’t know his travel, he had permission. If you ask me personally, I want him next season. There is no-one thinking he cannot be here. If he wants to leave, as a club we don’t know it. All the Twitter accounts saying he will leave, I don’t know. Maybe you know more than me.”