With the UEFA Champions League ready to start its 23/24 season, current Champions Manchester City will get their new campaign underway against Red Star Belgrade later this evening.
And Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who was absent for a few weeks due to injury, has returned to the sidelines and has spoken ahead of this game.
While Pep discussed many things related to his team, it was his laughter over Manchester United that has caught attention.
During yesterday’s press conference, Pep discussed how other Premier League sides have started their season, ” How strong is Arsenal? I saw them at Goodison Park; they are exceptional. As are Liverpool, the mentality has continued there.”
At the end of Pep’s sentence, an opinion on Manchester United was then asked, which resulted in laughter and a smile from the City coach.
And while his laughter pretty much gave his answer, Pep then added,
” They have not started, I think how would have expected, like Chelsea. But always they are Man United, always they are Chelsea. Sooner or later, they will find their rhythm.”
It’s safe to say United have not started their season very well, only winning six points from wins over Wolves (1-0) and Nottingham Forest (3-2), but heavy losses against Tottenham (2-0), Arsenal (3-1), and recently Brighton (3-1) have placed them on 13th place, just one spot over Chelsea.
Guardiola has also expressed his desire for Man City to win the UCL back-to-back, ” We will play this competition thinking how nice we were (last season), how nice it was a win, okay but the competition has given us another challenge. Go for it, and at least try it. It is difficult, but just try it, and if we are able to, then okay, but if not, qualify for next season and try it again.”