Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola hopes Manchester City fans were happy with what they saw after a youthful side put six past Wycombe in the Carabao Cup. Guardiola has been at the centre of controversy recently after calling for more fans to attend the Etihad after the Champions League win over Leipzig. He refused to apologise for the comments before the Premier League draw with Southampton, and fans appeared keen to draw a line under the episode with pro-Guardiola chants on Saturday. Speaking after the 6-1 win over Wycombe in the Carabao Cup, Guardiola made a point of thanking the City fans when reflecting on the number of academy players he fielded against the League One side.
Pep Guardiola said: “We played good, maybe five mins to take the game. After we played good, they were stronger than us because we didn’t play well. Josh [Wilson-Esbrand] stayed under the line when he should leave but it happens they are young lads, how they focus. It’s nice as a manager I enjoy a lot and I’m privileged to give the opportunity. They have their future ahead of them they want to take it. When after became professionals it’s always ‘i take this position’, they don’t demand anything they want to do it. I was pretty sure they were concentrated. Thank you so much for the people coming today. I’m pretty sure they enjoy a lot. I’m sure our fans will see players from the academy, growing up, most of them play their first official game in front of our stadium, it is so nice. We have an incredible generation of young players. Maybe in the future they’ll be important like Phil Foden. It depends on them. When we start this competition always we have injuries, that give opportunities for the academy, never I thought we have [a right to win the competition.] Of course winning four times in a row is exceptional. We won many times, clubs are focussed to try do it. I don’t know what will happen, now focussed on the big week ahead. Continue to do it.”
