I want to do it at Manchester City, more than ever: Pep Guardiola

LONDON – Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City are in good hands with him at the helm, while his immediate focus is to avoid a third successive Premier League loss when his team face neighbours Manchester United on Sept 14.

The Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium pits two troubled sides against each other, both of whom have just one win from three matches.

City’s consecutive defeats by Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion have raised questions about Guardiola’s expensive overhaul of his side after last season’s third-place finish.

“When you change 10 players in a period of four or five months, everything needs to be settled, fixed and coordinated,” Guardiola explained on Sept 12.

“We are doing many, many good things, but still we have to be more consistent. But step by step, we’ll do it.”

Looking ahead to his future and whether he is still the right man to take the club forward, he added: “I will not stay at Man City when I feel that the club needs a change. But right now, I feel I want to do it, more than ever after what happened last season.

“And especially now, in this moment, and I want to be in front of all of the club to take my shoulders bigger and bigger, to keep the situation with my players, trying to do it.

“I’m not here just because I’ve done it in the past. I like to look forward, that’s why we had incredible success because all the time we are thinking about what’s next...

“It’s my 10th season here, I’m so proud of that, and I want to help the team and the club being there, again and again.”

Guardiola’s problems have hardly eased in the two weeks since City blew the lead in their 2-1 loss at Brighton, with Egypt forward Omar Marmoush ruled out of the derby with a knee injury.

Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri remain sidelined and there are also questions over the fitness of John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis, Nico O’Reilly and Abdukodir Khusanov.

Not all is bleak, however.

New City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is looking forward to competing for the gloves with James Trafford and says healthy competition will bring out the best in both of them.

The Italy international was signed from Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year contract on transfer deadline day, leading to questions over who will occupy the No. 1 spot following the departure of Ederson.

Trafford, signed earlier in the window, started all three of City’s Premier League games this season but has been under scrutiny after committing a costly error in the 2-0 loss to Tottenham.

“I’m happy because competition is good for everyone. I can’t wait to meet him (Trafford), and I can’t wait to meet my new teammates,” Donnarumma said on Sept 11, before he joined the squad.

“We have to be a strong and united group with people who care for each other and that is the key to success. Together we can make great success.”

The Italian also said he was ready for the challenge of playing in the English top flight.

“I’ve always dreamt about playing in the Premier League, as it’s the best league in the world,” he added.

United goalkeeper Andre Onana, meanwhile, has completed a loan move to Turkish side Trabzonspor.

Onana’s move had been on the cards since the club acquired Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on transfer deadline day.

Lammens’ £18.2 million (S$31.6 million) signing left United with four goalkeepers, and, while the club said they were fine carrying that many, the struggling Onana’s future had already been in doubt.

Turkey international Altay Bayindir started all three of United’s Premier League games this season, while Onana has played only once, in United’s shocking second-round League Cup loss to fourth-tier Grimsby Town in a penalty shoot-out. He was at fault for Grimsby’s two goals.

United head into the derby after needing a last-gasp penalty from Bruno Fernandes following another error-strewn display in their 3-2 win over Burnley, as they finally clinched their first win of the season.

That dramatic victory came after Ruben Amorim’s team were beaten by Arsenal, drew with Fulham and suffered their humiliating League Cup exit. AFP, REUTERS