Let’s see what’s being said…
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has warned his side defeat to Everton.
The Spurs boss insists that result ensures the Blues will be all the more determined to beat his side on Saturday evening.
Previewing the encounter in his press conference – available to read on Tottenham’s official website – he stated: “Be sure that they are not happy with last week and they will try to show and play in front of their supporters and try to change the feeling that they got against Everton.
“When you play against a team like Manchester City, always you must give your best to try to get the three points and that is our challenge but I think it’s too early to start to talk about decisive games or decisive points to try in the end to achieve big things. I think it’s too early – there’s a lot of games ahead.”
Pochettino also tipped his City counterpart for success in England, adding he should be granted time to instil his methodology.
“For me, he is one of the best managers in the world but it’s normal – in English football in the last few years, the level has increased a lot,” he continued.
“It’s always difficult to arrive at a new club, change the philosophy, settle your values and your principles but I think he is doing very well. We are in the top six, very, very close together, we are in a similar situation and I’m sure that in the end he will have success because he is a great manager.
“I know him very well because we played every season during four years – sometimes in the Copa del Rey, in La Liga maybe we played 10 times against each other and also because Barcelona is not very big like London and you can meet someone easily, so I know him very well.
“He has very good people on his staff, very good friends of mine. I spent many years close to Barcelona and he spent his life as a player in Barcelona.”
Asked of his thoughts on City’s newest recruit Gabriel Jesus, Pochettino replied: “I know him very well because I saw him play in his national team in Brazil. I think he’s not a proper striker, he’s more a player that can play like a second striker.
“He’s very young, he has potential, a very talented player. Maybe he will be on the pitch or on the bench, I don’t know, but in my opinion he’s very young, he’s 19 years old and we need to wait.
“Today, it’s too difficult not to have an idea because with the internet, watching football from everywhere, you can find information quickly.”
Read more... Gabriel Jesus: The story of City’s new Brazilian
In other news, there are a few snippets of transfer gossip.
Shoot’s Daniel Church claims: “Liverpool and Manchester City are reportedly set to go head-to-head in a bid to land Germany Under-21 international starlet Mahmoud Dahoud.
“The Premier League sides, who currently sit third and fifth in the English top-flight standings respectively after their opening 21 league games, have both been heavily linked with Borussia Monchengladbach’s highly-rated midfielder.
“The 21-year-old, who has featured six times for Germany’s Under-21 side, has scored one goal and provided two assists in 18 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga outfit so far this season.
“Dahoud, who came through the German club’s youth ranks to sign his first professional contract in August 2014, is also said to be attracting interest from Serie A giants Juventus and AC Milan respectively.
“However, the report suggests that Liverpool and Manchester City are ‘hot favourites’ to win the race for the German youngster, whose contract at Borussia-Park expires in June 2018.”
Finally, there’s talk of a potential outgoing – but only a temporary one…
According to TalkSPORT: “Manchester City starlet David Faupala is set to join Zulte Waregem on loan.
“The 19-year-old has been tipped for a big future and he scored his first goal for City last season during their 5-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup.
“The Frenchman has spent the first-half of this season on loan at NAC Breda, but he has returned to the Etihad after failing to make his mark.
“However, City are keen for the Faupala to go out on loan again and, according to reports in Belgium, he could join Zulte Waregem.
“The Belgian side are keen to sign a forward this month and they are ready to take a punt on the France Under-18 international.”
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