After discussing transfer plans, Joe Hart and Champions League football, Pep Guardiola was finally able to talk about the next Manchester City match, a key Premier League encounter with West Ham United at Etihad Stadium.
Advertisement
However, Guardiola confirmed Hart and Willy Caballero – who has replaced Hart as City’s starting goalkeeper – will be fighting to be the club’s backup to Bravo.
Guardiola has made no secret of the fact he does not intend to include the England worldwide in his first team plans – a revelation that has caused a great deal of unrest among City fans.
“If all four stay here, the best solution is for everybody to be involved in our idea. The situation is not easy right now”.
“Of course, it is not ideal, but I will respect their contracts”, Guardiola added. “I will be clear what the solution will be”.
The forward looked to suffer a hamstring injury after going down in pains after attempting to chase a ball through in the Citizen’s 1-0 victory over Steaua Bucuresti in Wednesday’s Champions League play-off.
Bravo completed his move from Barcelona for a reported initial fee of 13.75 million pounds ($18.2 million, 16.1 million euros) on Thursday.
Asked if Hart’s fellow outcasts Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri and Wilfried Bony might leave the club, Guardiola replied: “Maybe they stay, maybe they go”.
But Guardiola, who has so far preferred Willy Caballero to Joe Hart in the Premier League, does not think the 33-year-old is ready for action on Sunday.
Guardiola said: “I know he is a left-back but how he played against Sunderland and against Bucharest, it is hard to find a centre-back better than him”.
Yet West Ham pulled off a surprise early season-win at the Etihad Stadium last term and, despite a lengthy injury list including Andy Carroll and Andre Ayew, boss Bilic sees no reason why they can not repeat the trick.
“I can not deny this was special for me”, said Guardiola. We trained with 30 players today. I know the people there, most of the players are still there.
“It happened last season with Bayern Munich”. In the future it will be normal.
Advertisement
“They will check (test) our level, our current level”. We need some time.
