Guardiola on Being...

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola addressed the media ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with West Ham at the London Stadium (kick-off at 20:00).

Here are the key points from his press conference:

Guardiola downplayed inquiries regarding the recent 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid, stating, “We are accustomed to situations like this. Moving on to the next match…”
On team selection choices, he explained: “Did we win or lose against Madrid? We lost, so the selection was poor. Did we win or lose at Newcastle? The selection worked. Every decision is made with careful consideration for the team.”
He further stated, “With all the traveling, we can’t field the same starting eleven. My focus isn’t on our past victories, it’s solely on West Ham. While I understand your questions about Madrid, my priority is on West Ham and Nuno.”
Guardiola confirmed that Erling Haaland is fit and ready for Saturday’s match.
When asked about balancing preparations for West Ham and Real Madrid, he remarked, “Every game matters, but my attention is on West Ham. I’ve faced scrutiny over my decisions before, and I recognize it’s not the first time. I stand by my choices.”
He discussed current Premier League teams struggling in the Champions League: “Previously, England was regarded as the best league; we held that title, but after last week’s results, we seem to have lost that. Nevertheless, I firmly believe in our league’s strength. We can certainly improve.”
Revisiting the Madrid setback, he said, “My perspective remains unchanged. In the first half, before they scored, we played exceptionally well. Then the goals shifted the game’s dynamics, notably with Valverde’s quality.”
Guardiola aimed to divert the conversation from Real Madrid, responding to a question about overcoming the deficit: “West Ham is my primary focus. I’ll think about Madrid afterward. We need to perform in the match at hand.”
On the topic of West Ham’s urgency for points, he replied, “We are equally desperate.”
Highlighting the significance of the upcoming fixture, Guardiola asserted, “The Premier League is immensely challenging, and we know that dropping points could spell the end of our title hopes.”
Regarding Antoine Semenyo’s recognition as Premier League Player of the Month for February, he expressed: “I’m thrilled for him; he’s an exceptional player who truly deserves this accolade.”