Guardiola: “The duels against Liverpool are like basketball”

Pep Guardiola appeared before the media in a completely unusual setting. The press room at Millwall Stadium, recently renamed in honor of British journalist Paul Jiggings, hosted the Manchester City manager’s conference, which will face Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals tomorrow.

a new duel for the ‘sky blue’ team, which traveled directly from Madrid to London so as not to waste time. That is why the Mancunian team trained today at The Den stadium, located in southeast London, where Guardiola spoke about the rivalry between Liverpool and City. “It’s like basketball,” summed up the coach.

The match against Atlético as a turning point for Pep: “No, no, I know my players perfectly after six seasons. I didn’t learn anything. I’m not going to talk about the tunnel incident.”

Grealish and his nickname: “I don’t know if his name is Peaky Jack (because of his hairstyle, which is similar to that of the actors in the British series Peaky Blinders). I’m not in the dressing room. He is incredibly loved since he joined the team, he is a lovely boy and He has adapted perfectly and very quickly”.

De Bruyne and Walker: They haven’t trained with us. If Walker had not felt that he would not have left the field, it remains to be seen. He is a little sprained but he is improving. And De Bruyne’s are stitches on the calf, it’s not muscular at all. We’ll see tomorrow but apparently little has happened since Wednesday. Ruben Dias trained today and we’ll see what we do.”

Klopp and his rivalry: “You oversize it. Klopp and I don’t play so we can’t surprise anyone. The surprise is not the managers, it’s the players. The actions belong to the players. The FA Cup semi-finals are always difficult against this team. Even with the best players fit and rested. I learned as a coach when you get to the last stages in all competitions and adapt to the schedule. If you want to complain, you’re wrong. It is what it is.”

Train at the Milwall facilities: “We are very grateful to Miwall. They have given us everything we needed.”

A solution for the minutes that are lost: “I don’t know. If it was like basketball, games would last four hours.”

Real Madrid, Benzema and his state of form if he would hit City: “His career supports him. He’s been playing for Real Madrid for more than ten years.”

The preparation of the City: “They want the players to be better but it’s a losing battle. The goal is for them to be in better condition but it’s not possible. That’s why I admire these players, for having played well without excuses. I don’t want to make excuses.”

On the rivalry with Liverpool: “It’s like in Barcelona. We played four times against Mourinho’s Madrid, but in this case, it’s the second time we played against Liverpool (in six days). When you play against Liverpool you always learn. It’s like basketball.”