Pep Guardiola hits back at Manchester City’s critics but is unsure when Erling Haaland will return
Manchester City came from behind to beat Luton 2-1; City were without Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola is unsure when the striker will be fit again; City travel to Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday before hosting struggling Crystal Palace on Saturday
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says the way his players came back from the ‘punch’ of going a goal down to beat Luton shows the character that defines the big teams in the Premier League
Pep Guardiola fired a warning to all of Manchester City’s doubters, declaring his team are ready to prove them wrong but is unsure when Erling Haaland will return.
City showed their champions’ mettle as they came from behind to beat Luton 2-1 – and register their first Premier League win in a month. This was an important win for Guardiola and his players who were on a run of four games without a win after being swept aside by Aston Villa in midweek in an unusually timid performance.
The treble winners played at Kenilworth Road without striker Haaland due to a bone injury in his foot.
City travel to Red Star Belgrade in midweek for a dead rubber Champions League match before hosting Crystal Palace on Saturday in their final Premier League game before flying to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Luton and Manchester City
- Luton 1-2 Man City – Match report & highlights
- How the teams lined up | Match stats
- Premier League table | Watch free Premier League highlights
When asked how long Haaland would be out for, Guardiola was unsure: “A stress bone. Just stress. Don’t ask if it’s a broken foot. He wasn’t ready today, I don’t think so for Crystal Palace. Hopefully he can be ready in Saudi Arabia. Week by week will dictate how he feels.
“The day after Aston Villa he couldn’t walk, then the next day he was much better. He said I can walk and don’t have pain. The doctor said we have to wait, week by week, day by day.
“Maybe Crystal Palace he will be ready, I don’t think so. We will see.”
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Gary Cotterill and Sam Blitz take a closer look at Manchester City’s comeback win at Luton and why Pep Guardiola has reasons to be relaxed over the next week or so
City went down 1-0 away to Aston Villa on Wednesday having previously dropped points in draws with Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Guardiola said his players did not allow the prospect of losing for the second time in a week and the performance showed his team still have the belief to challenge for top honours this season.
He said to Sky Sports: “The way we have been playing this season has been good in most of the games. I try to analyse that, but we need Bernardo to put the ball in the goal – we needed it. They fought like we’ve always done. It was important for belief. People have said it’s over but we want to make them wrong and to believe the season is not over. Will we be there? It depends on us and how we perform.
“He later added in his press conference: “They don’t need to prove what they are capable of, extraordinary group of players. But in general it’s normal. City is not the same, it’s over. Let them prove us wrong. Let’s prove that we want to be there.”
What’s next?
Manchester City have secured top spot in Group G of the Champions League ahead of their trip to Crvena Zvezda on Wednesday December 13. Kick-off 4.45pm.
City then host Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday December 16. Kick-off 3pm.
Sourse: skysports.com