- Colin Cranmer
"Every game is a final with 10 games to go" - Pep Guardiola pre Crystal Palace Press Conference
Pep Guardiola answered questions on City's academy players, Patrick Vieira, a possible continental treble and didn't answer questions on Chelsea's current predicament whilst previewing Manchester City's Monday night game away at Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Chelsea:
"I don't have an opinion. I don't know exactly the reason why it's happened. Give me a few more days."
"Exactly the same, I don't have an opinion. I don't know what's going to happen. It's the position for the manager and the players, it's uncomfortable and I feel sorry for them. They're there to do their jobs. I don't know."
Team news:
"It's still a few days before Monday night. We have little bit problems, don't have many players available. Hopefully some of them come back, today we train the guys who don't play yesterday."
Prepping for Palace:
"We got qualification for the quarter finals. Prepare for an important game in London. Seeing their run, one loss in eight game, physicality, organisation, quality upfront especially Zaha. When they defend deep, so difficult to break down. Selhurst Park always difficult to go. It's a final for us, we know it. Prepare Saturday, Sunday well to arrive Monday in a good shape."
Managers talking about owners:
"With Covid, we should talk about the doctors? We are the face of the club, we are here every few days. You have to understand there are subjects we don't know and don't have an hour lesson to speak and talk about. I can talk about my club, more than comfortable. Last week I couldn't talk about United, I'm not there. Same with Chelsea. The position for Chelsea manager and players, I don't know what's going to happen. I prefer when I don't have knowledge, wait and this is what I have to do. I don't want to say anything uncomfortable for Chelsea or our club."
"It looks like if we are here we have to know everything. We are human beings, I talk about Ukraine. This situation, why he's [Abramovic] banned, I don't know the reason why. I don't know, maybe next press conference I have a clearer opinion, speak with my CEO to see the exact reason why."
Egan-Riley influence:
"They know it [academy players]. It was a clear example, Cole Palmer is injured but was really involved. Others are coming. Work hard, nothing is for granted. If they want to do something, prove it and deserve it. CJ [Egan-Riley]was an exceptional situation, we had a lot of problems in the back four. He took his opportunity. As a defender it's a huge value to not make mistakes. He doesn't make mistakes, he saw situations before it happened. With the ball always correct. In the academy that's why they are there. When we pick him and has the opportunity, he earned it."
"One of the best advice for them [academy players] is stay around [Scott] Carson as much as possible in the locker room and the pitch. Listen to him, every time he says pay attention, do it, this is the best advice they can get. You have to be there to know his influence, every situation is different. Experienced to live many things. His value, just be with them. Like young actors have to be with old actors. They are wiser, they have learned the values of a profession."
Winning a treble influence?
"No, lower than zero on my mind. This is the reality, you should understand the level is so competitive, so difficult. To try and win at Palace. When I'm happy is we're in the quarter finals, the opponent will be so tough. Step by step, recover, increase our levels, then we'll see."
Every game is important:
"All the games when we start the last 10 games of the league, every game is a final with 10 games left."
Vieira's doing well at Palace:
"The team we faced was really good, always was difficult vs Palace especially at home and away difficult. His intention was to play, press, after was Hodgson they defend massively well. Through the months, now just seeing these details, lots of minutes vs Chelsea, they're doing really well. Patrick knows perfectly the Premier League, one of the best players of all time in the league. He knows the stadiums, media, smell of the competition. Happy he's going well."
Written by: @coIgcra
Some quotes as quoted by Manchester Evening News and Manchester City.
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