Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insisted the club ‘”respects” neighbours Manchester United “for its history” while also agreeing with Erik ten Hag on his sentiments of injuries costing the season.
The Premier League manager of the year was swift to defend his “suffering” opposite number who claimed the Red Devils’ season has been derailed by ‘numerous injuries’.
The bitter rivals are set to clash at Wembley on Saturday (3pm Nigerian time) for a consecutive FA Cup final.
After becoming England’s first team to win the Premier League title four times in a row — if City come out victorious in London, they will be the first ever team to win a League and Cup double two seasons in a row.
“If history gives us the opportunity to do something unprecedented, let’s give it a go.”Maybe [it will be] an extra motivation for the players. I haven’t spoken to them about that specifically. Just playing for the trophy is enough,” Guardiola said of the task at hand.
Manchester United, on the flipside, finished in their worst league position since 1990 in a season marred by injuring, ending eighth on the standings.
Guardiola continued: “We respect United a lot, it’s always been like that since I arrived [in 2016, editor’s note], for its history. Over the last decade, we’ve been better, but from a historical point of view, they’re the best team in England, and for that you have to respect them enormously.”
Guardiola also said he “agreed” ten Hag’s opinion of injuries being one of the main reasons for their poor season.
“I have a lot of respect for his work in the past, and now at United.
“They didn’t have a full squad. [They’ve had] a lot of injuries, the coach has suffered a lot.”If I lost a lot of centre-backs, I’d be in trouble too.”
