EPL: Guardiola dismisses claims of major Man City squad overhaul
Pep Guardiola says his veteran Manchester City stars still have a key role to play in the club’s rebuild as he seeks to reclaim past glories after a difficult season.
City have only the FA Cup left to compete for in terms of silverware, following the collapse of their Premier League title defence and their Champions League defeat by Real Madrid.
Guardiola’s team will host second-tier Plymouth in the fifth round on Saturday.
The club has been criticised for not renewing an ageing squad more quickly, despite winning six of the past seven Premier League titles.
City made four signings in the January transfer window — Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez, and Vitor Reis — highlighting the scale of the rebuild required following injuries and a dip in form for key players.
However, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Guardiola insisted that his experienced players would still play an important role next season.
“There are players here who are over 30, and they will be part of the future of this club,” he said.
“Except for Kevin — Kevin and the club will decide in the future — the others have contracts, and I expect them to be here next season. They are going to help us.”
He added: “We cannot do it just with the new ones or just with the old ones. We have to be all together… It is really, really important for the end of this season and the next.”
“I count on Gundo (Gündoğan, 34), I count on Berni (Bernardo Silva, 30), I count on all the players who have contracts. They are here. I have no doubt about that.”
Guardiola, whose team are aiming to reach the FA Cup final for a third consecutive season, is refusing to take Plymouth lightly.
The south-coast side, currently in the Championship relegation zone, stunned runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool in the fourth round.
“We have played many times in the Carabao (League) Cup and the FA Cup against lower-league teams, and they are always tricky,” he said.
“What these teams do, they do really well. And if you are not ready, you are in trouble. We have a chance to reach the last eight of the FA Cup again, and we want to do it.”
AFP
