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Pep Guardiola spoke to the media on Friday to preview Saturday's Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns, and the Catalan manager also had to talk about other topics.
The biggest ones were the future of Vincent Kompany, which has been in question ever since Pep arrived in Manchester. Kompany was substituted at half-time in the EFL Cup loss against Manchester United in midweek, and some reports suggested that the coach was losing patience of Vincent's constant injury fears, but Pep reassured that he counts on Kompany to have a big impact in his team.
Guardiola also touched on a comment made by his friend, journalist Martí Perarnau, who claimed Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez made contact with Pep to try and make him the new club manager last season, an offer Guardiola immediately rejected in order to join City this summer. Pep didn't confirm or deny Perarnau's claim, but made it very clear he will never join Madrid.
Below is a collection of the main quotes from Pep's pregame presser:
"Congratulations to Tony Pulis on his new contract. West Brom use his style marvellously. I saw against Tottenham [in a 1-1 draw this month], they use the long ball and they defend low. We have to adapt.
"Many things have changed in the last six games. In the beginning we were winning and now we're not. But, we are fighting, like we were in the beginning. I need time to learn, improve...I am still in that process.
"Maybe this situation will make us stronger for the future. I'm pretty sure of that. For the next period, not just this season but the next season as well. Maybe we will learn from that and be stronger.
"Kompany's future? All professional players can play in different styles, and of course he can [play in my side].
"He has a contract, no? So of course, I don't know what the problem is.
"He didn't play as much the last two seasons and we want to keep him safe. We want him to have the same options as his team-mates. We want to take care of all the players.
"The game against Southampton he played 78 minutes and he said he can't play no more, and the last game was 45 minutes. We need to handle the situation until he can play 90 minutes.
"It was just three days after Southampton, so maybe that's why he was tired.
"I'm a follower of FC Barcelona. I don't think Real Madrid needs a manager like me and I wouldn't fit there either."
Source: Sky Sports
"Injuries? They are getting better. Right now I cannot answer. They are getting better - but I cannot answer if they will play at West Brom.”
Source: ManCity.com