Embargoed Section: Pep Guardiola’s pre-Everton press conference part two

It’s time for part two of Pep Guardiola’s pre-Everton discussion with the media on Friday afternoon.

Manchester City embark on the Premier League contest that comes in between a mammoth Champions League double-header against Real Madrid at the semi-final stage of Europe’s premier competition.

Everton are the opponents on Sunday afternoon, as Sean Dyche’s side desperately search for the results that would guarantee them Premier League football next season – although Pep Guardiola’s side arguably offer the ultimate test.

In part two of Pep Guardiola’s pre-Everton press conference, the Manchester City boss discussed the ability to cope with the run-in pressure, the battle between Antonio Rudiger and Erling Haaland, as well as praise for Kyle Walker.

Here is every word from the embargoed section of Pep Guardiola’s pre-Everton press conference at the City Football Academy!

---

On how he copes with pressure at this stage of the season

“Thank you so much. You’re telling me I’m old, huh? It is what it is, at the same time it’s nice. Try to sleep as much as possible, that’s what you try to do.”

Can you ever switch off from football at this stage?

“When I have in that case five days (off) for example, yes. Tuesday in Madrid to Everton, I have… I went to Barcelona for example these few days to see my wife and my little daughter and stay there. That helps me. But with every three days, there’s no chance. Days are less because you have to review the game, prepare for the next one, training sessions or whatever.

“It’s more demanding, but it is what it is. At the end, I always say, it’s not complaining at all. Not even the schedule, it’s a privilege. I take it like a, how much can you demand. I think the excitement to try to do it again, to win the titles at the end gives you an incredible energy when you are a little bit tired. The tension is there, the pressure is there, I feel it, we feel it. That’s normal.”

Can you cope better than when you first became a manager?

“Yeah, a little bit better.”

What were you like then?

“I prefer now, I’m older.”

Do people around you prefer now?

“I don’t know. But in the first years, when I was in Barcelona for example, it was more difficult for me to handle it. Now, I’m a little bit better. At the end, I learn many times when I lose in these stages, especially in the Champions League, and at the end you will be criticised for one day, two days, and after next two, three days prepare for next season. At the end, nothing changes much when you win or you lose, at the end, honestly. Still we are here, what is important in that moment is to try to do it and get it.”

On whether it’s hard for the players to transition from Doucoure to Modric

“No I don’t think so. The players are so humble enough and respectful a lot to the opponents, and they know exactly how difficult it is at Everton because they live it and they know it and what they are playing for. I don’t know what’s going to happen but I’m pretty convinced that they will be incredibly focussed at Goodison Park.

“The Premier League, I’ve said many times, it’s the title, it’s so important. I know for the highlights, the Champions League is so special, but it’s many, many months, many tough games, incredible effort. This is the most important thing, you have to train good, just prepare, what does it mean to play a Sean Dyche team. This is the point.

“After we have three days, it’s enough time, we are used to it. It’s enough time to prepare for Real Madrid, with our people, with our fans to go there and try to do our best again, and reach a final. Now it’s Everton. Because it’s not the first time we have an incredible game, and competition. At the end, we play at home, the second-leg, and Everton is one hour by bus – so at the end, it’s not so demanding.

“It’s not like when you play Champions League away, and after three days you have to play, I don’t know, in the south of England against Southampton or Brighton, you have to take a plane before. At the end, come on. We are privileged, the club take care of all of us perfectly and you have to be ready to do it.”

On Antonio Rudiger vs Erling Haaland

“Congratulations to Rudiger (smiles). Erling, we cannot forget, is 22 years-old, it’s the first time he’s played a semi-final of the Champions League, first time he’s gone to the Bernabeu, biggest stages. At the end, it was difficult, they are a top, top club, top players, good defenders, good midfielders, good strikers.

“Next time will be a little bit easier, if the team is able to play a little bit better in some departments that we are thinking for next Wednesday, maybe it will be easier for him (Erling Haaland). So at the end, it’s what we try to do. But he fought a lot, I saw the game yesterday (Thursday), and he was incredibly committed in what he had to do. I’m pretty sure he’s ready for first Sunday, and for the next games.”

On whether Kyle Walker sets a good example for players who haven’t played much

“They have to, why should you not be ready? It doesn’t matter if you play or not. They are here being taken care of really, really well. Prepare for when the team needs him, be ready. And Kyle has always been that, and he knows the parts of the season the reason why he didn’t play, we spoke together many times and he knows the reason why. It was just tactical decisions. No more than that, and of course he’s a key, really important player for us.

“Sometimes you need a type of player for that position, and sometimes we need him specifically. That is the only reason why. There is not, for any other player, a problem. ‘Ah, I don’t like you,’ or something like that; no. Sometimes I need more defenders, sometimes we need better build-up, sometimes I need specific things for specific…

“In the FA Cup semi-final I played Sergio (Gomez). Sergio didn’t play much. We needed, in that position, for the way that Sheffield (United) defend. Most of the times it’s related to this kind of situations. And I’m very pleased all the time that Kyle is ready.”