Section:OBS 2S PaGe:9 Edition Date:190804 Edition:01 Zone: Sent at 3/8/2019 18:01 cYanmaGentaYellowblac
- The Observer
04.08.19 9
played in the World Cup the previ-
ous summer. Klopp’s concern about
the relentlessness of the schedule
and what that means for his players
is entirely understandable.
Nor has there been any fresh blood
in the form of new signings. That goes
against Bob Paisley’s dictum that you
should always buy from a position of
strength, both to ward off compla-
cency and because there is nothing
more likely to drive up the price than
desperation, but in the circumstances
it perhaps makes sense.
On the last three occasions
Liverpool fi nished runners-up, they
lost a key player: Nicolas Anelka, Xabi
Alonso and Luis Suárez. Liverpool
have not lost anybody other than the
back-ups Alberto Moreno and Daniel
Sturridge, and they have managed to
sign a number of players to long-term
deals. Crucially, in that regard, this is
a young squad. Only three players are
30 or older and of them only James
Milner would be considered a regu-
lar fi xture in the starting lineup. The
threat of a team growing old together
does n ot apply here.
There is fresh blood, too, in the
sense that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain,
having missed almost all of last sea-
son with a knee injury, is back, albeit
he is a doubt for today with a slight
calf strain. Gomez and Ke ïta, equally,
missed large chunks of last sea-
son through injury, while there may
be more of an opportunity for the
19-year-old forward Rhian Brewster,
who has had his own struggles
with injury.
Liverpool’s is a young, developing
squad, one attuned to Klopp’s way of
doing things. It may be a little under-
cooked at the moment, but even fi ve
or six years ago teams tended to map
their seasons out so they would not
hit peak readiness until February or
March. So why the tetchiness from
Klopp? Why the sense of anxiety? Whythe downplaying of the Community
Shield?
The problem is the old rules do
not apply any more. Over the course
of the past two seasons, City have in
total dropped only 30 points , which
means every game is vital. There is no
place for a slow start in the Premier
League. But it is not just about that.
Liverpool’s pursuit of City last sea-
son was extraordinary. The 97 points
Liverpool accumulated represents
a proportion of the available points
that would have brought the title in
117 of the league’s 120 iterations. Yet
even with all that grind, even with the
late winners against Crystal Palace,
Tottenham and Newcastle, it was not
enough.
City versus Liverpool has the mak-
ings of a historic rivalry but for it to
be so Liverpool are required to win a
championship and it would be easy
to imagine a team becoming discour-
aged, believing that this City cannot
be caught. Their faith in themselves
would be severely challenged were
Guardiola’s defending champions to
win comfortably at Wembley – even if
there were mitigating factors.
The truth is, there is no reason to
believe City will be any less effec-
tive this season. They too had players
involved in international tourna-
ments this summer – fi ve at the Africa
Cup of Nations or Copa América and
a further four at the Nations League- but the dynamic is different. A com-
bination of unprecedented resources
and a superlative coach has already
made them dominant in ways English
football has n ot experienced.
Klopp looks at the Community
Shield and it reflects Liverpool’s
doubts. Guardiola looks at it and
sees another prize, the continued
acquisition of which is the only thing
that might answer his own inten-
sity and ambition, and the needs of
his owners.
‘When I win in the
Premier League, in the days
after I am happier, I work
better with my players,’ says
Pep Guardiola‘The Champions League
is important but I don’t want
to gamble everything for
seven games’
Guardiola’s target
‘I won’t risk title
hat-trick for
European glory’
It is possible to win big without
rolling the dice. Pep Guardiola’s
unprecedented quadruple brought
him English football’s largest
jackpot but it is not one he is willing
to risk by gambling in a bid for
European glory.
Manchester City’s Premier League
winners face Liverpool’s Champions
League holders today. While
Guardiola’s adventurous approach
brought 169 goals last season, he
is adamant he would not wager a
campaign’s work on the outside
bet of emulating Jürgen Klopp by
conquering Europe.
“The Champions League is an
important tournament, diffi cult to
win,” he said. “But I don’t want to go
to the casino and gamble everything
I have in my pocket for seven games.
I don’t want it.”
A manager who was fi rst defi ned
by winning European Cups now
insists he places a greater priority on
domestic glory. It is why, he claims,
he would sacrifi ce a fi rst Champions
League since 2011 to secure a
hat-trick of Premier League titles.
“I would sign right now to do what
we did last season again,” he insisted.
“Not winning the Champions League
and [getting] four titles again.” He
said it offers greater job satisfaction.
“ I want to be happy during 11
months. It makes me happy, the
Premier League. When I win, the
days after I am happier. I go to the
restaurants better, I work better with
my players. That’s what it gives me.
“Am I going to wait until February
to play seven games with everything
on the colour black? From my point
of view, it’s too risky. You have to
handle it. To maintain the health
of the team, the focus in the
Premier League. The Premier
League always is the most
important thing, the local
competition because it
is every weekend.”
If defeats come at
a smaller cost in the
Premier League – and
even in two seasons when
City accumulated 198
points, they lost six times –
luck plays a lesser part. City
exited the Champions League
to Tottenham on away goals ;
what proved a decider off Fernando
Llorente’s arm and thigh and after
what appeared a Raheem Sterling
winner was overturned via VAR.
“One inch offside, no inches
offside, decisions, referees, arriving
with a lot of injuries, the team is
better than you,” Guardiola said. “For
one or two games many things can
happen. Winning the Champions
League is so diffi cult, so, so
complicated.”If fortune favoured Klopp’s
braves, and Guardiola has
consistently complimented a team
he admires, it grates a little that
City’s unprecedented clean sweep of
the English trophies was compared
unfavourably with Liverpool’s
continental feats.
“Winning the Champions League
gets all the credit,” he noted. “But
why is it higher than what we have
done over 11 months? I’m pretty
sure Liverpool would have liked to
win the last Premier League [after]
30 years not winning. It is incredibly
good what they have done in the
Champions League but winning the
Premier League is really good. They
were just one point behind, but we
were better.”
However, City’s inability to
conquer the continent has come
at a cost. It is a reason, Guardiola
feels, why his players have been
overlooked when awards season
comes around. Kevin De Bruyne
was City’s leading representative in
the 2018 Ballon d’Or rankings , his29 points dwarfed by winner – and
Champions League winner – Luka
Modric’s tally of 753.
“I’m not going to say the 10 guys
nominated for this award don’t
deserve it,” he said. “But I was a little
bit surprised because our players
won four Premier League titles and
they were not able to be there, even
once.
“Maybe because, for this award,
it is seven games: eighth-fi nals,
quarter-fi nals, semi-fi nals and
fi nal. When you win the Champions
League, you will be there.
“In the other 10 or 11 months they
don’t care for these kind of awards.
It is a little bit unfair but it is what it
is. Maybe you have to win fi ve titles
or maybe Bernardo six. I don’t think
one player made a better season
than Bernardo Silva last season,
even winning [the Nations League]
with Portugal. Maybe we have to
win fi ve or six or get 250 points to
be considered next season.”
While Sterling was named
Footballer of the Year , no City
player has won the PFA Award,
to Guardiola’s bemusement.
“In eight years we won four
Premier Leagues, and never
won: not Sergio [Agüero],
not David [Silva], not Vincent
[Kompany], not the players in the
past. So the season we won 100
points, huge respect for Mohamed
Salah but Kevin De Bruyne was
above and beyond the normal
situations. But it is opinions.”
Those opinions have favoured
Liverpool’s Luis Suárez, Salah and
Virgil van Dijk when City won the
league in 2014, 2018 and 2019
during their own title drought.
Rivals have been opposites, but
Guardiola is adamant the Premier
League is the prize that proves the
most.Richard Jollytter, I work better with
hat’s what it gives me.
to wait until February
games with everything
black? From my point
o risky. You have to
maintain the health
he focus in the
ue. The Premier
s is the most
ng, the local
ecause it
end.”
ome at
in the
ue – and
easons when
ated 198
st six times –
sser part. City
ampions League
on away goals ;
a decider off Fernando
m and thigh and after
d a Raheem Sterling
verturned via VAR.
ffside, no inches
ons, referees, arriving
njuries, the team is
u,” Guardiola said. “For
mes many things can
ing the Champions
iffi cult, so, so“In the other 10 or
don’t care for these k
It is a little bit unfair b
is. Maybe you have to
or maybe Bernardo s
one player made a be
than Bernardo Silva l
even winning [the Na
wwith Portugal. Maybe
wwin fi ve or six or get 2
beconsidered nexts
While Sterling w
Footballer of the Y
player has won th
toGuardiola’sbe
“In eight years w
Premier Leagues
won: not Sergio [
not David [Silva],
[Kompany], not the
past. So the season
points, huge respect f
Salah but Kevin De Br
above and beyond th
situations. But it is op
Those opinions hav
Liverpool’s Luis Suár
VVirgil van Dijk when C
league in 2014, 2018
during their own title
Rivals have been op
Guardiola is adamant
League is the prize th
most.Rivals’ PL record
Liverpool Man City
1st four times
Guardiola
Highest position114
Pts 276 Pts-game^ 2.42
22
975
1,369
1,374
261
196
391
2nd four times
27
1,046
1,849
1,774
247
262
529
1,038 848
Premier League seasonsGoals againstPointsGoals forLostDrawnWonGames87
15 12
Klopp
Games 144Pts 296 Pts-game^ 2.06
Source: OptaWon 86
Drawn 38 Lost 20
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