Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the press on Friday afternoon, ahead of Manchester City’s next outing.
City will play host to Liverpool on Sunday at 4:30 pm UK time. Ahead of the game, Guardiola therefore discussed a number of topics in his pre-match press conference, including the fitness of Ruben Dias.
Dias was singled out as City’s MVP during their title-winning 2020/21 campaign, and had since been excellent this term as well.
However, the 24-year-old has now missed the Sky Blues’ last six outings across all competitions through injury.
And, when drawn on his side’s latest team news on Friday, Pep Guardiola confirmed that Dias is the only City player who will not be involved versus Liverpool:
Pep pre-empts injury question from @andyhampson: “Everyone is fit.” But then admitted Ruben Dias wasn’t.
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) April 8, 2022
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Pep Guardiola on Liverpool rivalry
“In five years here we play many times, all the times we were close. I faced in Munich with Jurgen. How we set up the teams here we were close many times. Every season except the year we got 100pts and the year they got 99 we were tight.”
City’s boss was then asked how long the club’s rivalry with Liverpool is likely to last, to which he responded: “Nadal, Federer and Djokovic was 20 years and we are five years. Footballers run quicker and to maintain success is more difficult than other sports.
“When I retire and watch and play golf I remember here the biggest rivalry was Liverpool. When you achieve 100pts and 98 points you need someone to push from behind to be so close. You have to make another step. I think Liverpool, knowing our club and chairman, we want to grow. I’m sure Liverpool and other teams are going to try to do it.
“The most credit I give is consistency through the years. Both have had four or five years. That’s why Federer, Nadal, Djokovic have been at the top for so long. Arriving at these stages to win the titles, we try to do it.”
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