Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he is ‘not worried’ by impending investment at Manchester United, but expects the club’s city neighbours to ‘make a step forward’.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25% purchase of Manchester United was officially completed this week and the British billionaire has been discussing his plans to rebuild at Old Trafford.
The 71-year-old spoke openly on the success of north-west neighbours Manchester City and Liverpool, outlining his intention to knock the club’s greatest rivals ‘off their perch’ at the top of English football.
City have been the dominant force in the Premier League across the last decade, winning six league titles since Manchester United’s last triumph in 2012/13.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Bournemouth this weekend, Guardiola said he is not worried by Ratcliffe’s comments, but has backed United to improve in the coming campaigns.
“It is not [something] I am about worried. I think I am pretty sure with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the other people Manchester United are going to make a step forward.
“I had the feeling they know exactly what they have to do, appointing people they need. With his experience in the business world it can make the project better. But that is normal. All the teams want it [to be at the top] and we want to be there. As long as I am here we will try to be there again.
“What I want is Manchester City, my team, to be there. The rest I don’t care. We want to be there. Only under Jose Mourinho were they second. I would say they have not be close like Liverpool in many years. But always I expected, when I arrived from day one, always, I expected Manchester United being there. Because of their story, tradition and many things.
“That didn’t happen. I don’t know the reason why. They know it, I guess. Maybe. It’s their business, not our business. What we want is to be there for ourselves.”
Asked whether Ratcliffe’s comments were a compliment to Manchester City’s modern success, Guardiola added: “It’s the truth. They will be closer to us. If they want to deny it because of things which are not their reality that’s their problem. Not our problems.
“Always when we have been below teams I have admired them and ‘what do you have to do to be close and challenge them?’. This is the real competitive people they want to be. when they want to judge on things they feel comfortable on one day they will not arrive at where we are today.
“When we were below and United were winning we were watching and admiring them. We learn from them. In the days of Sir Alex Ferguson and the generation from Roy Keane, David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville. All the big players were there.
“I am pretty sure then City admired them and wanted to be there. Now we are there. So that’s why I had the feeling they would be back.”
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