Pep Guardiola is expecting a tough rematch with Steven Gerrard as he spoke of the motivation that the Aston Villa manager has sparked in him.
Pep Guardiola said: “Every manager is different with the way they play. Aston Villa is different from Watford. It’s a challenge. It’s nice our job is a challenge, all the time there’s new managers, they beat you and you have to do it again. That’s nice, that’s why we’re still here, for the challenge from the managers. For me it’s an honour to play against Gerrard, a legend in English football and now a manager, an incredible success at Rangers. He came here, a good two results, it’s a challenge. That still motivates me to say okay, let’s face it, let’s do it. And what I felt on the touchline, next time it will be tough. Next time will be tough against Villa. I have the feeling that he knows exactly what the opponent does, what he wants to do. It’s not friendship there. He’s there, you shake hands, after that ‘okay you beat me but next time be careful’. And that’s the reason why he has done his career as a player and he will do it as a manager; Ranieri is the same. He may be polite but the instinct to win is there.”
