Alexis Nunes and ESPN FC’s Man City correspondent Jonathan Smith break down the lessons learned from City’s comeback win over Bayern Munich.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola is ready to end his pursuit of a defensive midfielder if City can get a work permit for Douglas Luiz.
Guardiola wanted a replacement for Yaya Toure, allowed to leave on a free transfer at the end of last season, with Napoli’s Jorginho identified as a top target.
However, Italy international Jorginho followed Maurizio Sarri to Sunday’s Community Shield opponents Chelsea, and Guardiola is ready to give a chance to 20-year-old Brazilian Luiz, who joined from Vasco da Gama in a £10 million move last summer.
“We will see, if at the end we decide to bring in another in it will be because he’s a special player for the future not just to add one more players for the number,” he told a news conference. “I’m so satisfied with the squad.
“We would like it [if Luis stays]. He has no visa and we will try to convince the federation to allow him to stay.
“I think he has the potential to stay with us, play with us and improve with us. We saw it against in preseason against Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. A lot depends on him and us.
“We asked for a work permit because we believe he can play with us, otherwise we would not ask them.”
Guardiola said he thought he had completed a deal for Jorginho before he moved to Stamford Bridge for £57m, and the 26-year-old could now line up against City at Wembley.
“Yes, we were close, but in the end Jorginho decided to stay with Sarri,” Guardiola said. “I want players who want to come to Manchester City. He didn’t want to come.
“Maybe it was a bit late to announce that, but if you don’t want to come, don’t come, and good luck with Chelsea. England is going to discover an exceptional holding midfielder.”
Guardiola is unlikely to have a full-strength side to face Chelsea, confirming that Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling are not due back in training until Monday while Luiz in ineligible without a work permit.
Many of his first team only returned this week, but record signing Riyad Mahrez is available after shaking off an ankle injury picked up in the United States while youngsters Phil Foden, Eric Garcia and Brahim Diaz, who impressed in preseason, could be part of the squad.
“It’s the Community Shield, the players know I’ll prepare like it was the best final we have to play, so seriously, to try to know as much as possible about Chelsea, right now, and Hudson-Odoi, the new winger — he’s so fast,” Guardiola said.
“I can assure you and the players it will happen every single game. I’ll be happy if we arrive at the end being there [in contention] in April and May.
“We cannot deny there are more contenders, United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, they have excellent players.”
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