As night falls, Manchester City will start the 22nd round of the Premier League away from home against Ipswich at 00:30 BST tomorrow morning. In the second half of the pre-match press conference, Coach Pep Guardiola had an in-depth exchange of views on Harland's contract extension, De Bruyne's form and the team's overall posture.
Guardiola appeared particularly buoyant at the news of Harland's contract extension, revealing that the new deal is for 115 months and emphasizing the importance of Harland's progression with the team. Referring to legends such as Aguero and Vincent Kompany, Guardiola believes that they have been at City for a long time because they still feel relied upon by the team and enjoy the joy of winning. For Harland, Guardiola is full of confidence and expects him to bring more victories to the team.
Speaking about De Bruyne, Guardiola said that despite his contract expiring soon, there is still a possibility of renewal. He emphasized that the most crucial thing for the team at the moment is to prepare for the upcoming challenges, including against tough opponents such as Ipswich, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. Guardiola was encouraged by De Bruyne's recent performances and praised him for the professionalism and effort he has shown.
Regarding the overall state of the team, Guardiola denied that the team is more optimistic due to Harland's contract extension. He emphasized that the team is always positive and focused on the upcoming matches. Guardiola also revealed that the team's moves in the transfer market stemmed from player injuries and availability issues, rather than the team being in a "new transition period".
Guardiola also discussed the topic of players' peak age in modern soccer, arguing that every player is unique and some can adapt quickly while others need more time. Guardiola expressed his satisfaction with Harland's health and praised his professionalism and the efforts of his physiotherapist.
Finally, Guardiola noted that the team needs to look for young players to challenge Harland's position, but emphasized that the top strikers are not just there to replace Harland. He encouraged young players to improve by watching and learning from good players like Harland, and revealed the team's options in case Harland is unavailable.
Facing the upcoming battle of Ipswich, Guardiola said that his team will fight for the win. He expects the players to show their strength and fighting spirit in the match and bring a wonderful duel to the fans.
