Pep Guardiola press conference: Man City's Sergio Gomez plan; Kalvin Phillips injury
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has revealed that the club intend to keep imminent new signing Sergio Gomez at the club.
The 21-year-old is on the verge of joining the Premier League champions from Anderlecht, and it had been suggested that he'd go out on loan to gain more experience.
But speaking in his weekly press conference, ahead of City's home game against newly promoted Bournemouth, Guardiola revealed his plans for Gomez, deep dived on Erling Haaland's impact at the club so far and revealed an injury niggle for fellow summer signing Kalvin Phillips.
Here's what Guardiola had to say.
Sergio Gomez
Why have Man City signed Sergio Gomez?
"You know the club is always working on many possibilities in many positions. This one target is a young player, in the Under-17 World Cup years ago the best player was Foden and he was the second best player. He played in Spain U21, young talent for Barcelona, went to Dortmund, played in good hands under Kompany [at Anderlecht]."
Will he go out on loan?
"He played well, we target him to bring him here. He's for now, he will stay with us, the squad, alongside Joao [Cancelo], Josh [Wilson-Esbrand] and him for the left-backs, he'll stay with us."
Erling Haaland
What has Haaland shown in training?
"An exceptional player but we're together one month. Not necessary to tell you, we all know it. He's an incredible competitor, wants to win.
"His sense of goal. What impresses me most is he has a good education, he's humble, how much he talks with young players, not just important players, always talks. Settles good like Julian [Alvarez] and the other guys."
How can Haaland to improve on his performance against West Ham?
"He has qualities to score goals but in the process I don't like the striker to be waiting for the ball. I want him to be involved, I think he likes to touch the ball. Not Erling, all of them, they all have to run and have the freedom to respect positions. If he wants to drop he can do it.
"Good linking, extra passes, close to the box I don't want him dropping, I want him scoring like Julian. All players like to be in touch with the ball."
Just how good is Haaland already?
"Erling like Julian or Foden or Cole Palmer have a lot of margin to improve. I wouldn't like to make them done. He can be a better player, he can have the will do do it. He likes football, I never see a player with 21, 22 years, maybe Messi he was already advanced, the rest is never finished and always you can improve.
"We will try this season, next season for him to be a better player than when he arrived. Like Phil, an exceptional player but margin to be better. Incredible instinct he has but has to ready the situations better. We're here as staff and coaches to help them."
Bournemouth preparation
Are the squad ready to face Bournemouth?
"Ready, I saw their game. I have a lot of respect for Scott Parker, the patterns are so clear. We spoke and trained and we're ready. It's so tricky [to face promoted teams early], the first games are so difficult, they don't feel pressure because they are in incredible mood. They don't have anything to lose, after the good karma being promoted, makes it complicated.
"After a few months all the teams have injuries, good moments bad moments, the mood in the locker room, these things happen. In the first games everyone push to do better. Always tricky."
Any injuries to report?
"We have Kalvin [Phillips] with some niggles, Cole Palmer had a knock in his feet so is a doubt. The rest fine.