Man City boss Pep Guardiola delivers Alexis Sanchez warning after fresh transfer twist
PEP GUARDIOLA has warned his Manchester City players they must not allow the speculation over Alexis Sanchez arriving at the Etihad to become a distraction.
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Sanchez is understood to want a re-union with Guardiola, who he worked under at Barcelona.
But in a fresh twist Manchester United have tried to hi-jack City’s move for the Arsenal striker, who will become a free agent in the summer when his contract at the Emirates expires.
Kevin De Bruyne this week dropped a big hint that Sanchez was on his way to City by saying “when he joins” rather than “if.”
But ahead of Sunday’s key visit to Liverpool Guardiola was in no mood to discuss where the Chile international will end up.
"I don't answer, I understand the question, you do your job, you know my answer,” he said.
“I’m focussed on Liverpool, we have to choose which to focus on - and I want to focus on what we are doing on the field, I would not like my players to listen, to see and read the manager talking about other things. The important thing is what happens for 90 minutes on the pitch.
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Everyone knows the quality of Alexis
"The players have two choices, follow what the media say or follow me. Hopefully I'll convince them to follow the football on the pitch.
“Spain made a good step forward in the last 10 years when the media started to talk about what happens on the pitch.
“One of the big successes in Spain was when people started to speak more than usual about the game, about what happens on the pitch.
“That's how I feel more comfortable. Sometimes it's better for my players not to answer.”
"Sunday’s game with Liverpool is all I want to focus on.
“Everyone knows the quality of Alexis but I'm sorry I can't answer about Alexis and other players."
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Some of City’s urgency to sign Alexis Sanchez this month has been eased by the news that Gabriel Jesus should be fit again within three weeks.
The Brazilian striker was re-examined by Dr Ramon Cougat in Barcelona this week who confirmed he has damaged medial knee ligaments rather than cruciate which would have meant he was out for the rest of the season.
He added: “The news from Dr Cougat is good. In two or three weeks, by the time we play Basel in the Champions League, he’ll be ready I think.”
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City have won only once at Anfield in the Premier League era but Guardiola dismisses any notion of superstition and is relishing the chance to end their dismal record in Liverpool’s backyard – while backing Sergio Aguero to break his Anfield scoring duck.
"Hoodoo? I don't believe in these kind of things, but two wins in 45 years there that shows how difficult it is,” he said.
“But records are there to be broken so maybe on Sergio can help us break that record by scoring."
