Pep Guardiola (Image: Getty)
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola offered up a sarcastic response when asked about his side’s interest in wantaway Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe. The Catalan coach admitted he was fond of the Frenchman, claiming Mbappe ‘has a future’ in football. Mbappe is set to leave PSG at the end of the current campaign and the attacker has been linked with a Premier League move. Reports have suggested City’s representatives met with Mbappe, but Guardiola remained coy when quizzed on any potential interest.
“I think he’s quite good,” Guardiola said during his press conference ahead of City’s clash with Brentford. “He has a future. He’s really really good.”
It’s claimed that Mbappe is Real Madrid bound, with the La Liga outfit favourites to land his signature. But should an opportunity to sign the World Cup winner arise, City are one of very few sides in Europe that would be able to afford his services.
Guardiola was speaking ahead of Tuesday night’s clash at the Etihad Stadium against Brentford, where the European champions will look to get back on track following a frustrating draw against Chelsea. Mauricio Pochettino’s side ended City’s 11-game winning run with a 1-1 draw – a result that dented City’s title hopes.
Kylian Mbappe looks set to leave PSG this summer (Image: Getty)
“I understand completely the doubts from the people, but what I’m seeing [of the City performances] I’m more than satisfied,” Guardiola said when asked about his team’s showing against Chelsea. “Since we lost to Aston Villa, we have won our games and been better but I can’t guarantee anything, but we are still there. We have to continue to be focussed on every game.”
City head into tomorrow’s match in third place, having fallen further behind both Liverpool and Arsenal, who won their respective weekend fixtures. Four points separate the Blues from Liverpool in first, but City do boast a game in hand over the league leaders.
Should they overturn that deficit and go on to win the league title, it will be a record fourth Premier League in a row for City. Guardiola acknowledged the standards his side have set over the last few years, and has insisted it isn’t impacting their form this season.
“I know the standards we have created because of what we have done in the past. I understand. I know our standards. You demand the standards of the past. For 11 months of the season, it’s not easy but we are there.”
While the Chelsea stalemate might’ve been a setback for City’s title hopes, Guardiola believes it could act as a catalyst to go on and pick up three points against Brentford. Pointing towards frustrations in the dressing room, Guardiola claims the City players are now looking to make amends.
“Are we going to win the Premier League? I don’t know but still we are there and we will continue. We were not satisfied [after Chelsea] but it’s part of the game. We don’t play alone, give credit to Chelsea for how they play in the first half.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1868297/Pep-Guardiola-Kylian-Mbappe-Man-City