Pep Guardiola: Manchester City's winning run is incomparable to Bayern Munich one and losing is inevitable
Guardiola will equal his 19-game record winning streak with victory against Crystal Palace
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Your support makes all the difference.Pep Guardiola has insisted it is impossible to compare his winning record with Manchester City to his one with Bayern Munich as he reiterated that his side will lose at one point this season.
Guardiola oversaw 19 consecutive victories while in Germany, winning three titles in three seasons and two German Cups in the process and his City team is one win away from equalling that record when they play Crystal Palace on New Year’s Eve.
However, the Spaniard is adamant that the two records are incomparable given that he has not won any trophies at the Etihad yet. He also still believes City’s run will not last and wants his players to prepare for when – not if – they lose in the Premier League.
“You talk about the numbers and the records,” Guardiola said. “That is a consequence of what we do on the pitch. It doesn’t count. What counts is what we have to do against Crystal Palace.
“I was there for years at Bayern Munich. You cannot compare. Here, it is my second season. We have not won one title. [We must] be calm and focused on what we have to do tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.
“I speak many times with the players: we are going to lose a game. The most important thing is how we react. That will not be big news. The news is when we win again, we are going to drop points. This is not normal.”
Monday marks the opening of the January transfer window, and City are in the market to strengthen their defensive options with the club keeping tabs on West Bromwich Albion’s Jonny Evans and Real Sociedad’s Inigo Martinez.
When asked about any potential deals in January, Guardiola said: “I am so happy with the players I have. I don’t know what is going to happen. If I have to live until the end of the season with the players and the young players I have, we will.”
Guardiola confirmed that defender John Stones was back in full training after completing a full session on Thursday but will not be ready for the trip to Palace, with Tuesday’s game Watford a more realistic target.
He also said that Vincent Kompany’s injury, which caused him to be replaced after less than 10 minutes against Newcastle United, is not as bad as first feared.
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