- Nabeel
"People are talking about Haaland, but Alvarez is an exceptional player..." – Pep pre Forest Presser
Pep Guardiola faced the media ahead of Nottingham Forest's visit to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday as Manchester City look to continue their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign.
The Catalan discussed Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne seven years to the day he joined the Blues and spoke briefly on transfer business ahead of Deadline Day.
On Erling Haaland:
"We are delighted. Hopefully, he feels good being here. We didn't have doubts. We still have margins to improve to be a better player and we're working on that."
Potentially rotating Haaland with Julian Alvarez and what has impressed about the Argentine:
"When Erling doesn't play, we play Julian. Almost sure. We are all really impressed with his pace, sense of goal, his work ethic, for many things."
On transfer business ahead of Thursday's deadline:
"With Bernardo, I said many times how important he is for us. Just one, two days finally the window will be over and everyone will be focused on what we have to do. I don't know what will happen [with remaining business]."
On conceding many goals lately:
"We have to try to avoid it. In the past years when we were down, it was difficult to come back, we've improved and can do it. We have to avoid it as much as possible. It's risky, one day we won't be able to come back."
Seven years to the day, Kevin De Bruyne joined the club:
"It was a really good signing for City; many, many years has done brilliantly since then. Before I knew it from Germany, I suffered [against] him [with Bayern while he was at Wolfsburg]. Delighted how he's performed in this time."
On Nottingham Forest:
"It [spending/new players] shows a lot what the club wants to be, to stay in the Premier League for many years. A historical club, many years was not there. A new team, similar style to last season. Another game at home with our people, try to do a good game."
On criticism the De Bruyne transfer received in 2015:
"Everything is open to talk and say their opinion, you have to accept. Maybe people didn't know him, that's why the haters are open to do it. He was calm to do a job on the pitch."
More on De Bruyne:
"You can talk about his incredible talent, his work ethic, his commitment to the club and the needs of everyone. He is a vice-captain. These types of players are so good you have to watch them. How is Kevin? Watch the game and you will know."
Will Haaland play/be rested tomorrow?
"Tomorrow you will see."
On Ilkay Gundogan:
"The impact on the team is always positive. This season I have the feeling he has started really well. Last game he had some niggles in his leg. I didn't take the risk because of how important he is."
More on Julian Alvarez:
"How good he is. I know him a little from TV/clips for River Plate... Every training session he gives everything, I like these types of players. [He had an] impact in preseason and now when he plays minutes in the Community Shield and the Camp Nou, where he could have scored a hattrick with no problems, he was involved in two goals in the last game [against Crystal Palace]. He has a sense to be in the right position in the right moment. When he drops [deeper], he has the quality to play. We are delighted. I know the people are talking a lot about Erling, and we are pleased about that, but Julian is an exceptional, exceptional player."
Written by: @NA1907_
Some quotes as quoted by Manchester Evening News and Manchester City.
Follow our Twitter account for reliable, live updates on all the latest news surrounding this story and everything Manchester City in real time.