Pep Guardiola has ‘unfinished business’ at Manchester City

LONDON – Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are heading in the right direction after a significant rebuild, vowing he still has “unfinished business” at the Etihad Stadium, nine years into his reign.

For the first time since Guardiola’s debut campaign, City failed to win a trophy last season as they finished third in the English Premier League.

City lost two of their opening three league games of the current campaign but have now gone seven matches unbeaten in all competitions, closing to within three points of leaders Arsenal.

When the Premier League’s longest-serving current manager was asked if he needs to take a break, the 54-year-old Spaniard, whose contract runs until 2027, joked: “In 2035, I will start to think about it.

“I see things that we are doing much better than last season and in every game we are a little bit better.

“There is the margin that we can do better in many aspects and that gives me the energy that it’s not job done. It’s completely unfinished business. That’s why I am here.”

Erling Haaland’s scintillating form has been the key to City’s success so far this season.

The striker has scored 21 times in 12 appearances for club and country, propelling Norway to the brink of a first World Cup appearance since 1998.

Guardiola believes that standard is “impossible” to maintain but said the striker and his City teammates have to step up when there is a drop-off.

“He feels really good, performance level not just in goals but many things he’s outstanding,” Guardiola said.

“Always what I said is it’ll drop, it’s impossible to stay there but I will be there, we will be there (to support him). We have this passion to help the team and sustain in the bad moments.”

City, who host Everton on Oct 18, will be without midfielder Rodri, who limped off in the first half of their 1-0 win over Brentford on Oct 5 and then withdrew from the Spain squad ahead of the international break. He had missed the most of last season with a knee injury.

But both fullback Rayan Ait-Nouri and forward Omar Marmoush, who had not featured since the end of August due to injuries, are back in full training. Midfielder Mateo Kovacic could also feature for the first time since Achilles tendon surgery last season after playing for Croatia in their World Cup qualifying win over Gibraltar.

Everton will be without their key man Jack Grealish, who is ineligible to play against his parent club.

Grealish, who cost a club-record £100 million (S$173.4 million) when he joined City from Aston Villa in 2021, has been revitalised by a loan move to Merseyside, sharing the league lead in assists (four) with Tottenham Hotspur’s Mohammed Kudus.

“It’s what he wanted,” said Guardiola on Grealish’s move. “His impact has been massive since Day 1. He is playing well.... He is a lovely, unbelievable guy, but he didn’t play for us for different reasons.

“Now he is back to real business, playing every game.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer

will both be spending extended periods in the treatment room

, it was revealed on Oct 17.

Odegaard, who was sidelined for two weeks in September due to a shoulder issue, will be out for a few more weeks with a knee problem, while Palmer will be unavailable for another 1½ months due to a groin injury.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta, whose men visit Fulham on Oct 18, said there is no definite date for the return of the 26-year-old Norwegian midfielder, who joins Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke on the sidelines.

Arteta added that Martin Zubimendi and Ben White, who missed training on Oct 16, will be available against the Cottagers, while their Ecuador centre-back Piero Hincapie may return to the match-day squad after missing a month with a groin injury.

His men are top of the table with a one-point cushion over defending champions Liverpool.

Palmer, who has not played since coming off midway through the first half of

Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat at Manchester United

on Sept 20, was initially expected to return after the October international break.

“Unfortunately, he needs to be out probably six more weeks,” said Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who believes the 23-year-old England international would not require surgery.

The Italian will be serving a one-match touchline ban when his team face struggling Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Oct 18, after being sent off for his wild celebrations following Estevao’s late winner in the

2-1 victory over Liverpool

on Oct 4.

Forest manager Ange Postecoglou is under pressure after a seven-match winless start, with the BBC reporting that Forest will consider Sean Dyche as their new manager should they decide to sack Postecoglou.

The Australian said: “Some look at the weeds, but I look at what is growing. I am really excited as I have a group of young players willing to change.” AFP, REUTERS