Sergio Busquets transfer rumours and responding to Erling Haaland’s retaliation to ‘kissing’ – Every Word from Pep Guardiola’s pre-Arsenal press conference part two | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has addressed the media during the second-half of his pre-Arsenal press conference prior to the meeting at the Emirates Stadium this weekend.

The Manchester City manager discussed a number of topics starting with Erling Haaland and the post-match antics involving the Norwegian striker after the last meeting with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

The 24-year-old became embroiled in heated confrontations with Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Magalhaes, while sending direct words to Mikel Arteta on the pitch at the Etihad Stadium following the 2-2 draw between the two sides.

It would also not be a Manchester City press conference without questions on the club’s transfer activity and their ongoing search for a new defensive midfielder, with reports from Spain linking the club with a sensational move for Sergio Busquets.

Following the embargoed section of Pep Guardiola’s press conference taken from the City Football Academy on Friday afternoon, here is every single word from the Manchester City manager!

On the importance of Erling Haaland not becoming distracted by war of words with Arsenal

“At the end of the (last) game it was emotional. For Erling, it is not easy when for 90 minutes the central defenders are pushing him, hugging him, kissing him, and these kind of things. At the end he’s a human being and has to react.

“Arsenal is a physical team in a good way in many aspects, and at the end what happened at the end for the emotions, it happens. It’s absolutely done.”

On not having any worries about Erling Haaland in those terms

“Listen, we cannot blame the discipline of Erling. Come on! It’s the defenders that push Erling, Erling didn’t push the defenders. It’s the defenders that create problems for Erling, he’s a striker. You know?

“Come on, now we are going to say because of one action that Erling is the guy who makes physical contact with the central defenders… ALL central defenders in the Premier League go against him! Not him pushing them, come on.”

On Sergio Busquets rumours in Spain

“No because he’s so happy in Miami! You know the weather there? He’s so delighted. I’ve spoken with Sergio since – not for those issues – many, many times quite often. We have the same agent, so I’m in touch from many years, so that’s the point.”

On whether Rodri’s position is the hardest to recruit

“No, there are players that can do it but they (clubs) don’t sell, they are so expensive. So we cannot do it. But of course we thought about that because (Mateo) Kova and (Ilkay) Gundo are helping us, but they are not proper, proper holding midfielders, we know that.

“And they are making an incredible effort. So I’m grateful for that, I’ve said many times. In the tough period, I know perfectly the players that made a step up to try to solve our weaknesses that sometimes we have for commitment and effort.

“And that’s why I’m so grateful for a few of them.”

On Matheus Nunes at right-back

“Well, it could be temporary but of course for the problems that we have, he has something, pace, that we don’t have. And it’s not his natural position, but he’s a player that is starting to make (progress) a lot and he helped us offensively and defensively as well.

“In some departments he’s helping us and learning a lot, and he’s a potential for the pace he has, he can play in the sides, absolutely he can do it.”

On the courage shown by Matheus Nunes to play in that role

“I would say that Matheus, like all the players, wants to play. It doesn’t matter which position, but of course every player has his own position that he feels more comfortable. But I’m not complaining about that.”

On Abdukodir Khusanov so far and after his debut

“Good! His training was good, his so attentive, always he’s so focussed and he’s new for everyone. Yeah, good!”

On whether Abdukodir Khusanov has ‘recovered’ from his difficult start

“Yeah, of course! Do you know how many central defenders make the mistake that Khusanov has done this season, all central defenders? And the defenders that everybody needs at a high, high level, do you know how many?! Quite (a few).

“So I’m not going to blame Khusanov for something, it’s more that I have to blame myself how still we do the mistakes, and the central defenders have to improve. But absolutely not; I didn’t blame publicly and even in the group personally that what happened in the past, I’m not going to do with the players that arrived after just one training session, and with us making an effort because we don’t have players to play against Chelsea – come on. He must be helped.

“I would like to be helped, if I’m Khusanov in the first debut arriving in a new country, in the Premier League, a new team, the language, how many things I’ve never listened to before, and playing against Cole (Palmer), (Nicolas) Jackson and so on – I would like to be helped, honestly.

“And this is what we have to do, and the team has done it. I love the reaction that the players had when that happened, to him immediately.”

On defenders’ aggression to Erling Haaland and his reaction to stay calm each week

“I’m surprised! I’m surprised how he can control his emotions. You know it’s every action he’s being pulled, and pulled, and the referee says play on, play on. How many times it’s happened?! And he never complains. Ah, when he pushes, it’s a foul, that’s for sure, 100 per cent! And he controls himself.

“And you are telling me his emotion that one day of reaction with Gabriel. I’m not asking for what Erling has done on one day, that means that is what he is, or how he behaves, no. He behaves incredibly well, and stands up, no complaints. And he will talk.

“You know what is going to happen in the Premier League, you have to stand up and continue, continue, continue to defend your position, and always he has, always. Ah for one day we are going to adjudicate what Erling has done?! No, come on. I don’t buy it.”

On whether Erling Haaland is the best striker he has seen in keeping a lid on retaliation after defenders’ ‘dark arts’

“I’m not saying dark arts. I never used that word in the media. I never used, everyone can do whatever they want and the teams. There is a referee who has to intervene when it’s not fair, that’s why they’re the referee.

“When we were in school, in the square to play as a boy, teenagers we played six against six, seven against seven and never, never with a referee. We decided when it’s a foul between eachother. Today there is a referee and they have to decide.

“And everyone can decide and do whatever they want. Of course, I do whatever I want with my team, and as a team we do whatever we want. But I think we are an incredible, incredible fairplay team, sometimes too much but it is what it is. We had success in that way.

“And we’ll continue. As much as I’m in my team, our team, we’re going to defend our position, but I’m going to defend my players because I know my players how they behave and they behave properly and I’m going to defend.

“Another situation is what the referee decides what they have to do. This is not my… And when it’s unfair, of course I complain and I can give my opinion but I think we have been so, so, so, so incredibly well-behaved here, in the media, before and after the game with the opponents, referees, statements, the Premier League, and so on. There’s no doubts about that.”