PEP'S PRESS CONFERENCE:
[emoji2424] Pep Guardiola: "Nobody talks about Nathan Ake and right now he’s playing beyond our expectations as a left-back. As a defender, how good he defends, all the actions with the ball are clever."
"These types of players help to make the others bright like Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland. I always pay attention to these types of things."
"John Stones had incredible World Cup. One of the first signings when I joined Manchester City. When he goes well, when he’s happy or stable, what a player. Ups and downs, injuries, but this is part of the process to realise what he needs to be consistent.."
"It’s better for us to face Chelsea at home with our fans after a victory - that’s much better definitely. It could be a very different game, maybe Graham Potter changes the shape, I don’t know. I know they struggled with injuries with important players."
"Jorginho wasn’t there, Mason Mount wasn’t there... We were able to win four Carabao Cups in a row because every competition is important. Of course, the FA Cup is important but now it’s rest, recovery and prepare with fresh legs.."
"It’s better for us to face Chelsea at home with our fans after a victory - that’s much better definitely. It could be a very different game, maybe Graham Potter changes the shape, I don’t know. I know they struggled with injuries with important players."
"Jorginho wasn’t there, Mason Mount wasn’t there... We were able to win four Carabao Cups in a row because every competition is important. Of course, the FA Cup is important but now it’s rest, recovery and prepare with fresh legs.."
"Chants about Kalvin Phillips' weight? He has a big sense of humour. It was funny from the Chelsea fans.."
"Normally, I have to say, I don't play much with two strikers, rarely. I would say I play with a false nine for most of my career. But of course, Julián Álvarez can play in a two, especially when defence is so deep with five at the back, he can do it."
"Julian will be important, of course, but vs Chelsea, with the game it was... Maybe in the last minutes he could have helped to increase our rhythm. But we'd already made all of our substitutions, so that's why... But he will be important."
"The players maybe don't believe it, not Julian, in general, but I trust them a lot. I trust, I rely on them, maybe more than they rely on themselves, about the quality, in everything, a lot.."
"When you want to fight to be in all competitions, you need everyone. It depends on them, how they perform on the pitch, how they perform in the locker room, his mood. They will have more chances to play. Otherwise, it will be other people to play.."