📣 Pep Guardiola on Raheem Sterling, Eric Garcia and Crystal Palace | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola spoke to the media on Friday ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Crystal Palace.

Here’s what he had to say …

Team news

“Today is off, tomorrow is training session. I’d love to update you. Eric [Garcia] will be back, the guy from the academy will be back. Aymeric [Laporte] and Nathan [Aké] won’t be fit, [Sergio] Agüero won’t either.

On Eric Garcia’s future

“I hope not but maybe Barcelona knows better than me. I don’t know what’s going to happen but maybe it’s going to happen.”

On goal celebrations being banned

“Only I can say that we want to follow the protocols. I understand how sensible it is, I don’t think the whole problem is due for the players. We can do as much as we can as better as possible and follow the protocols. If someone breaks the rules it’s not good.

“The reaction, we are going to fight, we know the situation where we cannot score the goals, so to hug it’s difficult. Football is emotion in the moment but I understand.

“A lot of businesses cannot do their jobs, we are fortunate to do our jobs. We try, all the clubs, managers, doctors, clubs in Premier League, Champions League, League One, League Two we try to follow the protocols.

“We have to do it and we are going to do our best to follow the new rules for the government, the scientists. Please, the situation in the UK is not due to football players.

“Don’t blame absolute responsibility on the players because it’s a pandemic all around the world. From the day one we’ve followed what the Prime Minister says.”

On Crystal Palace

“They know exactly what they have to do. They defend so well, we saw it against Arsenal, quality upfront. They controlled much part of the game. It was tough the last seasons here when we lost and draw. We convince the players to do their job and win the game.”

On Brighton game being a wake up call

“The reality because every game is so difficult. We see it. You see the results for the other top teams, every game is difficult. When you win away at incredible teams like Chelsea and United the headlines are nice but the reality is Brighton.

“We played really good, could have scored two or three goals. We suffered because they are good, not because we are bad. I spoke with my backroom staff, what a team we played today. Every game is difficult and Sunday won’t be an exception. Every game we win is a positive way to approach the next one.”

On Raheem Sterling’s goal drought

“He’s an incredibly important player for us. Without him what we have done in the past wouldn’t be possible. In all departments he can help us. I’m more than delighted he is with us.”