Pep Guardiola spoke to the media on Friday afternoon ahead of Manchester City vs Luton Town.
Manchester City return to Premier League action following their European exploits on Saturday as they welcome relegation battlers Luton Town to the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola‘s side played out a thrilling and exhausting 3-3 draw with Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.
Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol grabbed the goals and now the Blues will have to switch gears for a match against the Hatters.
City once again have the advantage over Liverpool and Arsenal as they play first this weekend and have the chance to pile the pressure on their title rivals ahead of their games on Sunday.
Speaking ahead of the game, Pep Guardiola was tight-lipped on the fitness levels of his first-team squad but did confirm one starter for the game.
Here is everything Pep Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference, which was broadcast on City’s official website.
Pep Guardiola Man City vs Luton press conference
Team news for Man City vs Luton
“We have training this afternoon and we will know better how they feel.”
Difficult to concentrate on Luton after playing Real Madrid?
“We have to. Premier League is so important and I expect a game more similar to what happened in the Premier League when we won 2-1 at the end than the FA Cup.
“We have to be ready. It’s 11 months fighting for the title. We know the position that we are in that we cannot drop points.”
Is it an advantage to play first?
“It doesn’t matter. We have to do the same job. We in the title races in the past we sometimes played before, sometimes played after. You have to win your game.”
Latest on Rodri after he said he needs a rest?
“I didn’t speak with him. If he needs rest, he will have rest. Or no, I don’t know.
“I have the feeling that the games he’s tired. Like Crystal Palace and Madrid, the second half was better than the first half.
“Ran more, was more precise in the second half than the first. It depends on the team.
“More than the physicality of course you spend mental energy playing every three days, three days. Of course, he’s tired. played a lot of minutes Rodri’s so important for us and we will decide tomorrow what we have to do.”
Are we going to see more injuries as the calendar gets bigger?
“Absolutely. Completely right, with you. It’s getting worse and worse and worse.
“Teams are playing more competitions, it will be getting worse and worse. Yep.”
Is Ederson ready to play or is Stefan Ortega first choice now?
“No. Eddie [Ederson] is the first choice. He’s ready, he was ready to play against Madrid.
“He’s ready to play tomorrow, he’s going to play the next game and we will take the decision for many reasons.”
Does Haaland need to improve outside of the box?
“He’s a young player. Certain departments in the game have to improve. Like a player who is 33 years old can have margins to improve. But it’s more about the team than him.
“We scored three goals, [he wasn’t involved though?] he had tqo central defenders close to him. Really close to him.
“It’s not easy. It’s the most difficult position on the pitch, the most difficult position is a striker.
“Every player has one player, this is two central defenders against one striker.
“He has two players and they were so tight, really good defenders. Madrid and most of the team. It’s the most difficult position. “
What must Erling Haaland do to win the Ballon d’Or?
“Play more minutes, learn what you have to do, the game plan but I don’t know.
“The target is not win the Ballon d’Or. The target is win the Premier Leagues, Champions Leagues the FA Cups, Carabao Cups and he did it.
“Without him it would not be possible. We won last season five titles, without him, no chance. Impossible.
“He’s a key player for us and he will improve because of his age, his desire.
“More games, more experience, arriving in the latter stages of competitions never happen in his career so this will be his future.
“But it’s not just with Erling, any player, even if 33 years old, you can be better. Until you retire, you can be better.”
Latest on Phil Foden and Kyle Walker
“I would like to tell you but I didn’t see the team, I didn’t speak with the doctors. We train this afternoon and now we finish the press conference I will make a meeting and we’ll see how they feel.
On Walker: “I don’t know right now. Honestly, I would tell you.
“Last time I said they are out, out and Josko was a doubt, at the end we have an incredible job our physios and he could play so it’s the same. I don’t know.
“If he’s ready I would tell you he’s ready, he can play.”
Can you rest Rodri?
“If a player doesn’t want to play he’s not going to play. It’s simple. Another one’s going to play.
“If he’s tired, feels exhausted, it can’t happen. Another player’s going to play.
“It’s not just Rodri. I would love to rest central defenders but with the defenders injured we are in big, big struggle. We cannot rest.”