Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has heaped the praise on Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag for turning the reds back into Premier League title challengers – but he couldn’t resist a double dig at their spending power in the process. Asked what United have improved since October’s 6-3 defeat to City, Guardiola gave a detailed assessment – while also referencing their spending in the transfer market that rivals City’s in recent years
Pep Guardiola said “When you see commitment without the ball… always I had the feeling that the strength and quality of Man United was always there. When I arrived, there was Lukaku, Pogba, top players everywhere in every season. It’s not just City spend a lot of money in this league. United do what they have done. All the time they have been top class teams, it’s just a question of being settled, patient and supporting the manager unconditionally. United is playing now how they play all their history. I said a few months ago that United is back. People say they’re not. They’re back. I knew it, I felt it. When I say I think Erik represents our job as managers in the best way. He is incredibly well educated, his work ethic, his success in Ajax. The way they’re playing. I’m not a big fan for United honestly but the success is fine, it’s good. He deserves it, he’s doing really well and it will be a good game tomorrow to prove ourselves.”
Guardiola repeated his spending comment when asked about United’s imminent signing of striker Wout Weghorst on loan,
Pep Guardiola said “In winter time it is not easy to sign players. I had the feeling if United wanted to buy any striker around the world with a lot of price, they can do it. Not just Manchester City. They can do it. Sometimes the market is what it is. This is my feeling.” But despite being unable to resist those small digs, Guardiola was ultimately full of praise for how United have improved in a short space of time under Ten Hag, expanding on what they have improved to become genuine contenders in the title race. We will be active, reactive as well,” he said. “The transitions are good. The transitions with Martial, Rashford, Antony, they are fast players. Not just Fernandes in the past, now Eriksen, Casemiro, even Luke Shaw from the side. The players are able to connect with the players upfront with good quality. I’m sure the players they have, at home, they will not be waiting for just one action on the counter. They will be active. They’ll try to drop us down and play their own game. United bring Erik for that reason, to be an active team, it doesnt matter what the opponent does, they will do what they do. They know as well what we find in ourselves. They know it. They are nine points behind Arsenal, we are five, four in front of United. There are 60-63 points to play, lots of games. They are there. From my experience, when you say title challengers, you have to see the way they are playing, in those terms. To have confidence, my team or another team, it’s the way we played, how consistent we are. Not results, it’s how you best players are playing, the keeper for example. If we shot on target two times in last five games and won 1-0, I don’t know if we could sustain because our average quality is not good. When I see the way United are playing, why not? Their playing is good. It is nice for us. The challenge to prove ourselves again, if we are able to do it.”
United could move to within a point of Manchester City with victory in the derby to strengthen their top four hopes – and with Arsenal awaiting after City, they could firmly haul themselves into title contention with two big results this week. Guardiola declared United were ‘back’ earlier in the season, and they are on a fine run of form going into the derby. After a slow start to the season, United are looking fluent under Ten Hag, prompting Guardiola to offer plenty of praise for his cross-city rivals – even if he admitted he doesn’t particularly like them.
