Manchester United vs. Manchester City: Pep Guardiola's Key Derby Presser Quotes
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has lauded the talents of Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic heading into Saturday's derby fixture at Old Trafford, hailing the Swede as "one of the best players [in the world]."
Ibrahimovic is currently joint-top scorer in the 2016-17 Premier League campaign after netting three times in his first three games, and Guardiola paid tribute to the forward's talents, per the Mirror's Jack Rathborn:
It depends on the way we play. I believe now and until the last day of my career that you have to play good to win the game. I want to attack, control the game, concede a few counter attacks - but play good.
Zlatan I have a lot of respect for what he has done in his career. What he did everywhere is amazing. He is one of the best players. Some players need time to understand the league but the big players don’t.
Guardiola leads the Citizens to Old Trafford on Saturday hoping his team can maintain their 100-percent start to the season while putting a stop to United's run and emerging as outright table leaders in the process.
The Manchester derby also reignites a rivalry between former Barcelona boss Guardiola and his old colleague-turned-opponent Jose Mourinho, with whom he said he'll share a glass of wine, per the Telegraph's Ben Curtis:
I said it many times – I have a lot of respect for Mourinho, I always try to learn from all of my colleagues – it’s the same with him. The rivalry is more from the media and we can’t control that.
He was my coach, my assistant coach with Sir Bobby Robson. OK, the last period at Barcelona and Real Madrid was not easy for both of us but we met each other two, three weeks ago at the manager’s Premier League meeting.
We spoke fluently with Ronald Koeman and Tony Pulis. It was correct, so that’s all.
Of course I’ll accept a glass of wine after the game if he invites me.
The stage is set for summer signings Leroy Sane and Ilkay Gundogan, formerly of Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund, respectively, to make their English debuts after Guardiola said both are fit, per the club's official Twitter account.
Guardiola also confirmed new arrival Claudio Bravo will be ready to take up his position in goal, and it appears likely the former Barcelona goalkeeper will start, per BBC Sport's David Ornstein:
However, Saturday's trip has come too soon for captain Vincent Kompany, who will have to wait before he can make his 2016-17 debut, with John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi deputising in central defence so far.:
One major talking point regarding personnel leading up to the Week 4 clash is that City's star striker Sergio Aguero will be suspended for the fixture after he picked up a three-match ban for violent conduct last month.
Guardiola was asked how he thinks Saturday's occasion will compare to similar derbies he's experienced in other top European leagues, but the Spaniard refused to play favourites, per City's official website:
Let me live this derby and after I can tell you how it can compare with Spain and Munich. I think that for the media on both sides, in Spain and here it’s similar.
A lot of people talking good and bad things - thousands of hours of analysis. It’s nice for the people involved in that - the painters and the writers can live it as their jobs.
They can talk about their books, their talents - we’re fortunate to live here and experience that. I’m so happy to be here for the first time in my life to be here in England after we think about the Champions League.
While Guardiola puts a great focus on Ibrahimovic, it will be of great intrigue to see how City fare against United without Aguero, the one player tied with the Red Devils frontman at the top of the goal charts.
However, Guardiola is wholly focused on his side and what City can produce with the ball at their feet, adding his target is to "control the game" before praising Saturday's opponents:
Not only do City share a joint-lead at the summit of the Premier League standings, but they also stand as the division's current top scorers, with nine goals netted in just three games.
At least one of Manchester's giants will drop their first points of the 2016-17 campaign at the Theatre of Dreams come Saturday, where Guardiola hopes to take an early upper hand in his duel against Mourinho.
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