Manchester City host Newcastle tomorrow at the Etihad with the aim of reducing the five-point deficit on Arsenal. The Premier leader will welcome Bournemouth immediately after learning the result of his great rival in the fight to win the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola considers Newcastle, fifth in the table, as “one of the toughest rivals we have until the end of the season in terms of experience, threat, transfer. In set pieces they are the best team in the Premier. Many, a lot of things. That’s why they’re there all season.”
For Pep, Newcastle’s improvement this season is not a surprise. “They have already signed experienced players, what they really need, they have a coach (Eddie Howe) who has a lot of quality, maybe they were surprised but not anymore. I think they will stay there,” Guardiola highlighted.
Four points from the Champions League
After finishing in 11th place last season, Newcastle are fifth, four points behind Tottenham and the Champions League places. The ‘magpies’ have played two games less after losing the League Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday (2-0).
Six consecutive wins saw Newcastle start the New Year in third place, but since then they have managed one win and three goals in seven games. Guardiola believes that, despite stagnating in recent weeks, he will continue at the top of the Premier League.
“They haven’t been (at the top) very long, you always think they need time, but they’ve done some exceptional recruiting,” Guardiola said.
“Kompany will train the City”
Pep also praised his next opponent in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, a Burnley team at the top of the English second division and led by Vincent Kompany, who he had as a player and captain at City between 2016 and 2019, when the former Belgian . center back left to become Anderlecht player-manager.
“The consistency they are showing is incredible. They are close to promotion. I am happy to see their success,” said Guardiola. And de Kompany is convinced that “sooner or later he will be back. His destiny to be City manager is written in the stars. It will happen, I don’t know when, but it will happen”.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
