LONDON • More than £500 million (S$889.5 million) have been lavished on Manchester City, the most expensive squad assembled in Premier League history.
But it requires so much more than money to build a team of this extraordinary calibre, starting with a rare vision built on mastery of ball possession and the obsessiveness to bring it to life week after week.
Manchester United have shown that you can pour millions down the drain, or into Alexis Sanchez's bank account, and get nowhere without a strategy.
Only "special, special managers" can retain the league title - so many great coaches have failed to achieve it, including former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
But, after City became the first side to retain the league crown since Alex Ferguson did so with United a decade ago, Pep Guardiola challenged his players to keep quenching his thirst for silverware.
His team matched their record total of 32 wins from last season and accrued a total of 98 points, the second highest in league history behind the 100-point tally they achieved last year.
Guardiola is more concerned with trophies than records, however, urging his players to retain their focus for Saturday's FA Cup final against Watford. The Spaniard is fully aware that City, who won the League Cup in February, are on the verge of an unprecedented domestic treble.
WINNING MENTALITY
The big competitors are never satisfied. The feeling is never enough. In tennis, basketball and golf, they want more and more.
PEP GUARDIOLA, on his ambitions for Manchester City.
He said: "We're so tired but, at the same time, winning is so addictive and, in a few days, we have the FA Cup final. It will be, for most of us, the first time in our lives we have been in an FA Cup final.
"No team in England has done (the domestic treble) before and we have the chance to it. We have to be focused in this game. The FA Cup is not an easy title to achieve."
While the City boss, who has now lifted four major trophies since joining in 2016, is expecting to face a challenge from more than one rival next term, he has plans to recruit new players in a bid to win the league title three straight times - a feat only achieved by Ferguson.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri is reportedly at the top of his wish list, while Leicester defender Ben Chilwell is also of interest.
The 48-year-old said: "The big competitors are never satisfied. The feeling is never enough. In tennis, basketball and golf, they want more and more, and that is why winning back-to-back showed me this kind of thing that it was not enough, what they have done.
"We have to make the right decisions for next season to come back stronger, because Liverpool will maintain it and the other ones will be better.
"United must come back, Chelsea one more year with (Maurizio) Sarri will be better, Tottenham, we have seen in the Champions League and, when Arsenal do what they have to do, they will be there, too. We accept the challenge and I promise you we will be stronger."
However, whether Vincent Kompany - whose contract is up in the summer - stays is still up in the air.
The City captain, though, revealed Guardiola "starts everything off" and his "desire" from day one had transmitted to the rest of the players, giving them the confidence they "could win back-to-back titles straight away".
THE TIMES, LONDON
AC Milan risk being excluded from European competition next season after UEFA on Thursday ordered another probe be carried out into the Italian club for breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations. European football's governing body said in a statement that UEFA's Club Financial Control Body investigatory chamber had decided "to refer the
AC Milan face long European ban after UEFA opens second
Wimbledon humble West Ham in FA Cup shock - espn.com
LIVERPOOL, England (REUTERS) - Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has confirmed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a serious knee injury and could return to training as
Oxlade-Chamberlain could return to training in February
Mourinho humiliated by fall at Russian hockey league face-off
Klopp: This is just the first step - Zimbabwe Today
LONDON (Reuters) - Ajax Amsterdam took a massive stride towards a first Champions League final for 23 years as Donny van de Beek's early goal earned a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their semi-final on Tuesday. Erik ten Hag's youthful Ajax side, featuring several players polished
Football: Wasteful Barca held to goalless draw at defiant Lyon Lyon's Anthony Lopes makes a save from Barcelona's Lionel Messi. Emmanuel Foudrot, Reuters LYON, France - Barcelona were held to a frustrating 0-0
Wasteful Barca held to goalless draw at defiant Lyon - Reuters
Gareth Bale finally found the net for Real Madrid, ending his goal drought and leading his team to an easy victory over Huesca on the road at Estadio El Alcoraz. Real Madrid's Santiago Solari insists the tough playing conditions were down to his side's poor performance in
Real Madrid boss Santiago Solari won't 'give up' as Dani
I cannot stop Messi alone, admits Virgil Van Dijk. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk insists he will not face a personal duel against Lionel Messi in his side's Champions League semi-final
I cannot stop Messi alone, admits Van Dijk -football- my.t
Football: Ambitious Hougang United show title promise, but face tough start in Tampines Rovers The Straits Times. SINGAPORE - In six months, Hougang United have transformed themselves from wooden
Atletico Madrid loan midfielder Gelson Martins to struggling
sportslifetale.com/soccer/atletico-madrid-loan-midfielder-gelson-martins-to-struggling-monaco/
Atletico Madrid loan out-of-favour midfielder Gelson Martins to struggling Monaco for rest of season Gelson Martins has not played for Atletico Madrid at all so far in 2019 Portuguese player joined La Liga club in the summer, signing as a free agent Diego Simeone's side have allowed him to join struggling Monaco in Ligue 1 […]
Sukhothai News, Scores, Schedule, Stats, Teamsheet - soccer
Noh meaning in Urdu: جاپان کا روایتی ڈراما جِس میں رقص اور موسیقی بھی شامل ہوتی ہے - Japan ka riwayati drama jiss mein raqs aur moseeqi bhi shaamil hoti hai meaning, Definition Synonyms at English to Urdu dictionary gives you the best and accurate urdu translation and meanings of Noh and Japan ka riwayati drama jiss mein raqs aur moseeqi bhi
8 Fun Corporate Team-Building Activities In Singapore Even
LONDON (AFP) - Gordon Banks, the England football team's goalkeeper when they won the 1966 World Cup, has died aged 81, his former club Stoke announced on Tuesday (Feb 12).. Read more at
England's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks dies
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen