‘Nobody counts it… I don’t know why’: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists his side are chasing FIVE trophies this season after winning the Community Shield in August
- Manchester City have won the Community Shield and Carabao Cup this season
- Pep Guardiola is unsure why the season’s first trophy is not given much respect
- The City boss joked that his side would not turn up if they make August’s game
- Sergio Aguero, Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy should be fit to face Tottenham
Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City are chasing five trophies – not four – and does not understand why the FA Community Shield is so readily dismissed in England.
Guardiola even joked that next season, if his team qualify for the Shield as Premier League champions or FA Cup winners, they won’t turn up.
City won the season’s first trophy in August with a 2-0 win against Chelsea at Wembley, and beat the same opposition on penalties to win the Carabao Cup in February.
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are chasing five trophies this season, not just a quadruple
City won the Community Shield back in August after beating Chelsea 2-0 at Wembley Stadium
They are still chasing the Premier League title and the FA Cup and on Tuesday will face Tottenham in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final.
‘People say we won one title, so what about the Community Shield?’ said Guardiola. ‘Nobody counts it. I don’t know why. It is a question I would like an answer to.
‘Maybe it counts for last season, but last season when we went on holidays, it was not in our pocket.
‘Of course in Spain and Germany, where I have been, the Super Cup is an important trophy.
Raheem Sterling and his City team-mates trained at Tottenham’s new stadium on Monday
City face Spurs in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday evening
‘Always we had the feeling we won two titles this season so far, we have three to play. So that is what we believe. But the people say all the time 2just one title, one title.”
‘Ok, next season, if we are able to beat Liverpool and win the Premier League, next season we are not going to play the Community Shield.
‘Why? Because it doesn’t count! It will be longer holidays in summer time, and we will be fresh for the Premier League and Champions League.’
Guardiola and his players are still chasing the FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League
Sergio Aguero, Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy all trained on Monday and should be fit to face Spurs.
‘I don’t know how fresh we are,’ said Guardiola. ‘I never know before the game how fresh will be our legs and especially our minds and the minds control our legs.
‘We know how tough it is. All the eight teams are contenders to win this prize, this Champions League. It’s the first-leg, a tough opponent, we know each other quite well. We are going to make a good game.’