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Pep Guardiola says all of his record-breaking Manchester City players deserve to stay at the club for “many, many years” but accepts that some of them may leave this summer.
City visit Arsenal on Sunday looking to add to their 17 consecutive wins in all competitions, a top flight record in England, while maintaining at least a 10-point Premier League lead over title rivals Leicester and Manchester. United.
A challenge for Guardiola could be how to improve his squad in the transfer market this summer, but the City manager was more interested in talking about his current players when future planning came up ahead of the trip to the Emirates.
Sunday February 21 4:00 pm
Start 4:30 pm
“What I believe is that all the players deserve to stay here for many, many years,” Guardiola said. “The quality they have is exceptional, there is no doubt. But year after year the situation is different because there are players who accept some roles and others who do not.
“It’s not about quality, it’s about accepting that sometimes you don’t play and at that moment the player has to leave.
“There are players, due to age, personality or many reasons, who accept all roles. Others do not accept it, when they play it is perfect but it is a problem when they do not play with the team.
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Manchester City’s incredible 17-game winning streak is one thing, but Guardiola contends they can improve. You feel like they could lose at any moment if they don’t get it right. Try telling that to the rest of the teams.
“These players have to reflect and talk with their agents and the club and decide what is best for them especially, and also for the club, so I don’t know what will happen next season.”
Veteran midfielder Fernandinho and Sergio Agüero are out of contract this summer, and City’s record-breaking goalscorer admitted he doesn’t know what the future holds beyond the current season.
Aguero has scored 256 goals for City since arriving from Atlético Madrid in 2011, but the 32-year-old has made just five Premier League appearances this season due to injury and a period on the sidelines after contracting Covid- 19.
In a short interview with YouTuber Ibai Llanos, Agüero said: “I end my contract at the end of the season and I still don’t know what to do. I don’t have an idea.
Manchester City’s Sergio Agüero has been affected by injuries and illnesses this season
“The first thing I want to do is play football, and at the end of the season we’ll see.
“I will continue playing until my body allows it. I hope I can continue for a few more years.”
City sidelined Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday when a 3-1 win made them the first Premier League team to win their first 10 games in a calendar year.
When asked if this was the most dominant team of his tenure at City, Guardiola reflected on the 2017-18 campaign when his team won the title with 100 points.
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FREE TO SEE: Highlights from Manchester City’s victory against Everton in the Premier League.
He said: “This season we are not going to reach 100 points. It has been the best season, the numbers speak for themselves. Nobody has made 100 points.”
“Even the second league that we won when we scored 98 points, we also played amazing football matches. To win the Premier League you have to be consistent and so dominant.
“We’ve been doing this the last two months incredibly well but, like I said, in the spring no one is a champion.
“We will only get the credit we deserve at the end of the season if we are champions. If not, it is only a short part of the season.”
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