Pep Guardiola held his Fulham vs Man City press conference on Friday afternoon ahead of Saturday’s clash.
Manchester City have enjoyed another mid-week off following their 5-1 destruction of Wolves last weekend and will return to the field against Fulham on Saturday afternoon.
With Pep Guardiola’s side going first this time around, they have the chance to pile the pressure on Arsenal and move to top spot.
The Gunners travel to arch-rivals Manchester United on Sunday, a place they often struggle to win, so it could prove to be a pivotal weekend in the title race.
Guardiola spoke to the media on Saturday in his press conference and here’s what he had to say in his press conference that was broadcast on City’s website.
Pep Guardiola Fulham vs Man City press conference in full
Any injury concerns?
“No, everything is fine.”
How have you kept everyone fit?
“I don’t know. I don’t know what is at other clubs but we have an incredible medical department, with physios with a lot of work but doing the same, the same maybe could be the opposite it is true that we were fortunate last season to have few injuries.”
A United fan this weekend?
“I’m a City fan, to try to beat Fulham. That’s all I’m concerned [about].
How important is Friday’s Youth Cup final for the youngsters?
“Yeah, at this age of course it’s important but it’s not much. They have to try to win but what happens, happens.
“It’s a process to learn, to learn, to learn and we play these finals always we learn. To play with the pressure, to perform well in a final.
“For the academy it’s really important, last years have been unbelievable in many senses.”
Thoughts on Mateo Kovacic?
“He played really, really well because he’s not a player in the position for [Ilkay] Gundogan, playing out of the position but when he play we play in a certain way.
“He was really good against for example Nottingham Forest. To remember the last games he was massively important, he changed the game, so in those terms, it’s really, really good.”
Most difficult title race yet?
“They are at the same Liverpool in those years. Same level, both teams are incredible and have been incredible.”
Lack of the Champions League a benefit?
“I would have preferred to play semi-finals, to be honest of the Champions League but unfortunately, we could not be there.
“Congratulations to both teams in the final, even semi-finals. You never know, we adapt to what we have. We have just three days to adapt and we have long weeks to adapt.”
How good a job Marco Silva has done at Fulham?
“Excellent. Excellent. Not just this season but he was promoted with Fulham playing excellent football and last season really well and has patterns, defensively, offensively, are really, really good.
“I admire him a lot for the job he has done not just in Fulham, Watford was really well, some problems at Everton but in Fulham his impact is there.”
Fulham players flying kites, are they taking it easy?
“Are you sure, that it will be easy? They play in front of their fans, they will do everything to beat us, like we will do everything to beat them but I don’t know why we’re talking about I didn’t see anything.”
Haaland’s reaction to being subbed vs Wolves
“He loves to score, to bring goals like other strikers, like all the strikers I would say but his contributions since he’s arrived are magnificent.
“So what can I say? The numbers are here but not just the numbers for many things.”
Thoughts on Rodri not being nominated for Player of the Year awards?
“Have been one of the best. The nominated deserve it, there are players that deserve it too.
“The winners of all the trophies will deserve it and the nominated not winners will deserve to win. The list is huge, so everyone important.
“He knows what we think about his importance and the magnificent, extraordinary player he is. He’s not, he should not be worried at all about that. It is what it is.”
Do the media value awards more than the players themselves?
“Absolutely. It’s for the business. Before when I start at an early age it did not exist these awards, that is good, all the nominees is more than well deserved.
“All of them played really good otherwise we would not be here. There are a lot that could be there, they are not there so it doesn’t matter.
“What happens for the people involved is fine so no concern more than that.”
Do you like to get awards?
“It’s because we won, ideally we won. Normally happens when you win games, win titles.
“When this happens you have an award. And the award’s not me, I didn’t play one minute so I represent the club, I get the award on behalf of my players, staff, organisation. I feel like that.”
When you have every player fit, how do you make your selection?
“How they feel, the way they train, how they behave and the opponent’s tactics. Many things. There’s not a specific rule to decide.”