LONDON • More than £500 million (S$889.5 million) have been lavished on Manchester City, the most expensive squad assembled in Premier League history.
But it requires so much more than money to build a team of this extraordinary calibre, starting with a rare vision built on mastery of ball possession and the obsessiveness to bring it to life week after week.
Manchester United have shown that you can pour millions down the drain, or into Alexis Sanchez's bank account, and get nowhere without a strategy.
Only "special, special managers" can retain the league title - so many great coaches have failed to achieve it, including former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
But, after City became the first side to retain the league crown since Alex Ferguson did so with United a decade ago, Pep Guardiola challenged his players to keep quenching his thirst for silverware.
His team matched their record total of 32 wins from last season and accrued a total of 98 points, the second highest in league history behind the 100-point tally they achieved last year.
Guardiola is more concerned with trophies than records, however, urging his players to retain their focus for Saturday's FA Cup final against Watford. The Spaniard is fully aware that City, who won the League Cup in February, are on the verge of an unprecedented domestic treble.
WINNING MENTALITY
The big competitors are never satisfied. The feeling is never enough. In tennis, basketball and golf, they want more and more.
PEP GUARDIOLA, on his ambitions for Manchester City.
He said: "We're so tired but, at the same time, winning is so addictive and, in a few days, we have the FA Cup final. It will be, for most of us, the first time in our lives we have been in an FA Cup final.
"No team in England has done (the domestic treble) before and we have the chance to it. We have to be focused in this game. The FA Cup is not an easy title to achieve."
While the City boss, who has now lifted four major trophies since joining in 2016, is expecting to face a challenge from more than one rival next term, he has plans to recruit new players in a bid to win the league title three straight times - a feat only achieved by Ferguson.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri is reportedly at the top of his wish list, while Leicester defender Ben Chilwell is also of interest.
The 48-year-old said: "The big competitors are never satisfied. The feeling is never enough. In tennis, basketball and golf, they want more and more, and that is why winning back-to-back showed me this kind of thing that it was not enough, what they have done.
"We have to make the right decisions for next season to come back stronger, because Liverpool will maintain it and the other ones will be better.
"United must come back, Chelsea one more year with (Maurizio) Sarri will be better, Tottenham, we have seen in the Champions League and, when Arsenal do what they have to do, they will be there, too. We accept the challenge and I promise you we will be stronger."
However, whether Vincent Kompany - whose contract is up in the summer - stays is still up in the air.
The City captain, though, revealed Guardiola "starts everything off" and his "desire" from day one had transmitted to the rest of the players, giving them the confidence they "could win back-to-back titles straight away".
THE TIMES, LONDON
Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur recently revealed that they are going to Singapore and Shanghai during the summer as they prepare for the 2019-20 campaign. According to the club website
Tottenham confirms Singapore stop during pre-season tour
Football: Liverpool back on top as Shaqiri sinks United
FA Cup: Pep Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky trip to Newport - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola predicts his side will "suffer" against fourth-tier Newport County in their FA Cup fifth round match on Saturday but has urged his players to adapt to a battered playing surface at Rodney Parade.
Soccer: Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky trip
Juventus claimed their eighth consecutive Serie A title on Saturday with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Fiorentina. Alex Sandro's diving header after 37 minutes and an own goal from Fiorentina defender German Pezzella after a Cristiano Ronaldo cross on 53 minutes sealed a 35th Scudetto.
Juventus win eighth consecutive Serie A title - Daily Nation
Football: Philippe Aw, Fadzuhasny Juraimi, to lead U-15 and U
Football: Sevilla put pressure on Spanish La Liga leaders Barcelona by drawing level with 2-0 win over Girona
Valencia thrash Sevilla to keep pressure on Barcelona in La
footballnations.net/spain/la-liga/valencia-thrash-sevilla-to-keep-pressure-on-barcelona-in-la-liga/
Valencia striker Simone Zaza celebrates goal in win over Sevilla. Valencia moved up to within a point of leaders Barcelona in La Liga with a 4-0 thrashing of Sevilla at the Mestalla. Striker Simone Zaza scored his seventh goal in his last five league games to send Los Che four points above Real Madrid, ahead of their match on Sunday.
Villarreal vs. Real Madrid - Football Match Report - January
Southampton started the evening just five points above the relegation zone at the other end of the table, but had won their past two games as part of a general upturn in form since Ralph Hasenhuttl took charge in December. Liverpool needed more late goals to move top of the Premier League once more
Southampton v Liverpool LIVE STREAM - How to watch Premier
WOLVERHAMPTON: Wolverhampton Wanderers repeated their FA Cup defeat of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United thanks to a Chris Smalling own goal that gave them a 2-1 comeback win in a pulsating Premier League game on Tuesday.
Hungry Wolves beat 10-man Manchester United 2-1 - msn.com
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to go all out attack against Paris Saint-Germain. Goal. Sooraj Kamath. 09 What does Ole Gunnar Solskjaer need to do to overturn the tie? United will have to keep a
Solskjaer vows to make Utd players run faster and further
Ten-man Schalke draw blank ahead of Manchester City clash | Football News February 16, 2019 John Football 0 BERLIN: Schalke 04 warmed-up for the Champions League visit of Manchester City with a goalless draw at home to fellow Bundesliga strugglers Freiburg on Saturday.
Ten-man Schalke draw blank ahead of Man City clash - Punch
Solskjaer 'confident' of Man Utd miracle in Paris. (United Kingdom) (AFP) Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his "confident" side could stage a Champions League fightback at Paris Saint-Germain this
'Football, bloody hell!' - Solskjaer's Man Utd miracle in
Yes, you've read that correctly!! Arsenal ARE the favourites to win the title!! If you haven't already written me off as an incredulous and delusional red and white bleeding Gooner, then I
REVEALED: Who has the easiest title run-in out of Liverpool
0 comments:
Post a Comment