PEP GUARDIOLA lit the derby fuse by insisting he never believed Manchester City would have such a gap over United.
He also maintained it has nothing to do with cash.
Pep Guardiola has taken Man City further clear of neighbours Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Guardiola takes City to Old Trafford for a Manchester shoot-out still with three trophies in his sights.
Although the title is out of reach, the back-to-back champions are all but guaranteed a second-placed finish, while the Reds are battling to make the top four.
And Guardiola said: “I never expected this position between when I arrived here in England and right now — to have this distance against United in those three or four years.
“Individually and collectively they are so good, so that is why I didn’t see it. And although United are working to improve, City want to improve, too.”
When Guardiola arrived in 2016 City had just edged United out of fourth place on goal difference.
Both finished on 66 points, behind shock winners Leicester.
That gap then went from nine points, to 19 to an astonishing 32 in the following seasons. It currently stands at 15.
United fans claim much is down to City’s bottomless transfer kitty — yet in truth, it is the Red Devils who have spent the most.
Paul Pogba, Harry Maguire and Romelu Lukaku all cost millions more than record Etihad arrival Rodri — a point Guardiola was quick to make.
He added: “When it comes to expensive players the club has a bad reputation. They say, ‘That’s just Man City spending money’ but it’s not true — you just have to see the numbers.
“The important thing is to buy good players who fit in to the way you want to play.” But Guardiola does think United set the benchmark in terms of backing managers.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had anything but an easy ride at Old Trafford — and been written off as merely keeping the seat warm until the summer.
But Guardiola stressed: “You need time to implant, to build something the manager and the club believe.
“Unfortunately, results sometimes take the decision to break that process.
“I’m not part of United but what I feel is people believe in Ole and I think he is doing a really good job.
“Sometimes it is not about the tactics, it is about the feel and how the players follow the manager.
“He brought an incredible impact in terms of results and although there was a little bit of a drop, the comments were stable from the board and his behaviour in press conferences has been quite similar.
“It has been the same now the results are getting back to where they were. They are scoring a lot of goals.
“I appreciate the manager a lot. I think he represents United in an exceptional way.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
