Pep Talk: “It’s good news for us, everyone is good”

Pep Guardiola is a happy man. That is because for the first time this season, everyone is healthy and available for selection. That and more in Pep’s press conference notes today.

Let’s dive in-

“It’s good news for us,”

“Nathan is back. He made the training sessions and felt really good.

“Everyone is fit. It is important for us and hopefully at the international break everyone comes back really well.”

“It’s important this game,” he added.

“It is, like the previous one, the previous one and the next one.

“I know how difficult United are. I have the feeling they are a better team every season. They haven’t lost away for more than one year.

“They always get good results here at Etihad Stadium, but we know the opportunity we have to extend our advantage.

“The Premier League is 38 games, this is one of them. Obviously, they are now real contenders, second in the table.

“Everyone knows how important it is. We will try and win the game.”

“It comes from themselves, the desire to win and win again,” he said. “No words inject desire into the players. It comes from wanting to compete with his mates and do the best we can.

“People are saying nice things because we are winning. The smell when you win is beautiful but we can lose. That’s why our perspective is calm.

“We train incredibly well tomorrow the same and then we want to do a good game.

“I had incredibly hungry teams in my career. We were lucky to be together.

“To do what we have done - winning and winning - is because these guys have something special, like we had in Barcelona and Bayern Munich.”

“They are so strong in all departments,” he said.

“Defensively, in midfield they have a quality playmaker in Bruno Fernandes and the players upfront, so much pace.

“They have experience in [Edinson] Cavani, a player I admire. How he lives his career.

“It’s Manchester United.

“All the time, United are top class. It’s a privilege for us to have been in front of them for the last seasons.

“My target is to do what we have done lately and be ourselves.”

What a run Pep Guardiola nd the players are on. With a massive derby on the docket, it could get much sweeter.