The arrival of the England worldwide has thrown a spotlight on Eddie Howe’s side but the manager insists he has no intention of throwing Wilshere into his starting line-up. We will see and talk to the doctors.
Advertisement
As has become custom, City fans also booed the Champions League anthem before kick-off in continuing protest at organiser UEFA, with whom they have various issues.
Nevertheless, in keeping with the new era he is fashioning with impressive pace in Manchester, Guardiola has no time for these lingering gripes. “Simon [City’s press officer], maybe you know better than me”.
“The last games showed that we always play a very good first half – we did it against (Manchester) United and West Ham – and the second half was a bit more hard for us”, said Gundogan. I think, honestly, our players deserve the stadium completely full.
“What happened in the past is the past. They’ve started so well so we’re going to have to be at the very top of our game to get something”.
“In three or four weeks coming here is the best football player ever (Lionel Messi), with Luis Suarez, with Neymar and the wonderful Barcelona team, and we have to come here to enjoy it”. You have to come here to enjoy it.
“Obviously the Champions League is not easy, but our objective is to try to get where we got last season – the semi-final”.
Striker Sergio Aguero misses Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday as he continues his domestic suspension.
“What I can tell him is there is a team behind him that is going to help him”. “It is our job”. ‘If they’ve learned quick, it’s because of the quality of the players. Ilkay Gundogan had a sparkling debut this week in the Champions League but Guardiola remains cautious of the German midfielders condition. In the Premier League everyone comes here but in the Champions League they don’t. We can not discuss his quality. With our supporters and their songs, we are stronger.
Eddie has always maintained that he won’t change our style of play for anyone, well, I think he may need to have a rethink for this one, as a “damage limitation” measure.
Aguero said: “I still have three more years here (prior to his new deal being announced)”. “We created a lot of chances”. There is a long time to go.
Asked whether Gundogan would replace Silva, Guardiola added: “Good question, I don’t know, I’m thinking about it since two days ago”.
Guardiola couldn’t thank Aguero less as he feels City needed to start well against the Bundesliga side before they take on Barcelona and Celtic in their group stages.
Advertisement
AFC Bournemouth will be huge underdogs with the bookmakers for this game, particularly after the two meetings last season saw the Cherries concede 9, whilst scoring just once. I think we have made a great performance last night. People say they are the weakest in the group but I don’t agree. “We are happy because we are playing how he wants us to play”.
