Pep Responds To The Mind Games After The Event
Pep Guardiola has decided that his team do not commit “tactical fouls”. He was accused of said shenanigans by José Mourinho, (who else?), in the build-up to the Manchester derby which, of course, City won 1-2 not only without committing any noticeable trips or pull-backs but also without much diving, another Mourinho suggestion which failed to hold much water.
In fact, the only player who was booked for diving was United’s Ander Herrera in what the referee deemed was an unfair attempt to win a penalty.
This was all probably José’s attempt at mind games and was designed to try and unnerve the City players before the game. It failed at the time but did seem to unnerve their manager AFTER the game, which again, seemed to miss the point.
Since beating United City have gone on to beat Swansea away and Tottenham Hotspur at home so Mourinho’s words may even have had the opposite effect!
Anyway, Pep and his team are not for being knocked off their path of true destiny and it will take more than a few words of criticism from a fellow manager, particularly one in the same city, at their biggest rivals and ever so slightly jealous, to upset the sky blue applecart.
Eric Bailly Out For Months
Meanwhile, José himself is having to come to terms with the fact that he will be missing Eric Bailly for the next two to three months through ankle injury. The Ivorian now needs surgery and may not be seen again this season.
He has choices at centre back with the return from injury of Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones and, if one of these two gets injured, (again!), he has Victor Lindelof and Chris “Donkey” Smalling.
With his two geriatric wingers playing in the full back positions it is to be hoped that David De Gea remains in good form for the rest of the season otherwise United may find themselves sliding the wrong way down the table!
In good news for the United boss, Diego Simeone has said that Antoine Griezmann can leave Atlético Madrid if the right offer comes along. So all Ed Woodward need do now is make the “right offer” and José will get his man. Expect the Frenchman to be “working hard” at laughing and joking with his new team mates at Carrington by the end of January.
Klopp Gives Up On The Title
In a remarkable show of foresightedness, Jürgen Klopp has revealed that he thinks Manchester City will win the Premier League title.
No, Liverpool fans, he isn’t preparing his excuses for another trophy-less season, he just thinks that it is unrealistic to try and chase down City and that his team will target other rewards.
Here’s a snippet of what he said.
“This season nobody is really fighting any more for the title. I don’t think United are. We will all try to come as close as possible but if City doesn’t have any drop then they will probably win it so does that mean all the others have to stop? To be the best of the rest could be a fantastic target. So it is to try to have the best position in the table which for us for the last – I don’t know how many years – is probably third or second.”
So he’s going to try and win everything else, (except The Carabao Cup).
Pochettino Likes Others To Celebrate
Mauricio Pochettino thinks celebrating a win is good, particularly if your team is the loser and it is the opponents who are doing the celebrating. Here’s what he said.
“I never complain if another team celebrates because sometimes it’s good, after you lose, to hear everything that happens in the other changing room. It’s good to feel the pain. With respect, of course, because it’s always about respect, but sometimes it’s good to listen.”
So when City beat Spurs on Saturday, expect Pochettino and his players to be having a sneaky listen outside the changing room door!
Conte Denies That His Nose Is Growing
Antonio Conte has denied that he is lying about an injury to David Luiz in an attempt to cover up a training ground bust-up. He insists that the Brazilian is injured and will return to the team when fit. We here at WSA don’t know where the “bust-up” story came from but we do believe in the old adage which says that “there is no smoke without fire.”
This one will roll on for a couple of weeks yet!
Arsenal Won’t Be Selling Their Stars, They Prefer To Give Them Away!
And finally, Stubborn Old Man at The Emirates has reiterated, for the thousandth time at least, that his best players are not going to be sold in January. This should be comforting for all Arsenal fans as the two under-performing superstars will obviously walk away from the club for nothing in the summer.
Wenger and the club would gain far more kudos from their fans if they sold Sánchez and Özil for mega money rather than let them walk.
Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie are just two of a few examples of Arsenal cashing in on want-away players.
They are now obviously so rich that they don’t need the money!
WHY SAY ANYTHING? 