Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, foreground, scores his side’s first goal of the match from the penalty spot, during the English Premier League soccer match between Stoke City and Manchester City, at The Bet365 Stadium, in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016.
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The England worldwide has watched from the bench as Willy Caballero takes his position in City’s first three competitive games, all victories that Spanish manager Guardiola has overseen.
Barcelona have already confirmed they have agreed a deal in principle to sell Bravo to City and the Chile global was reportedly flying to Manchester on Tuesday to complete a £17 million move.
‘I have an excellent relationship with Joe, ‘ said Guardiola.
“I said to the players: ‘I am sorry but we are not already in the Champions League”.
“I think Sergio is a great striker, everyone knows that”, Iheanacho told a news conference.
City are closing in on a £17 million deal for Barcelona keeper Claudio Bravo and Guardiola says he will allow Hart to leave if he wants to go. “After that, I will be open to answer questions but, at this moment, he is not our player”.
“I work with them like there is no end. After [the deadline] we will speak about everything”.
Meanwhile, following Joe Hart’s exclusion from the three first EPL games of the season, the England number one could be on his way out.
The 106-capped Chile worldwide, 33, is four years older than Hart and five inches shorter and most experts in the game regard him as no better shot stopper.
“Yes, he has a chance to play”, Guardiola said.
Costa then ran onto a brilliant through-ball from Cesc Fabregas and shot past Gomes. But he has to help us, ‘ the City manager said.
“But I have a lot of respect for the opponent and I know what happens in football”. It’s hard for me to leave players who deserve to play out.
The value in backing a heavy home win is enhanced when one accounts for the fact that City have won three and lost none of their last five Champions League home games and reached the semi-finals of the competition last season.
City should rubber-stamp their place in the Champions League group stage for a sixth consecutive season this evening as they host Steaua leading 5-0 on aggregate from last week’s first leg. “We’ve just got to enhance the talent, play as a team and win”.
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“Obviously he’s been criticised a lot in the previous year, but the way he’s responding is great”, said team-mate Kevin De Bruyne. I don’t want the players to stay here if they don’t want to stay.
