Former Spain and Barcelona midfielder Gaizka Mendieta has given his verdict on Pep Guardiola’s start to life at Manchester City.
As reported by Squawka, Mendieta said: “I think also this is the biggest challenge of his career because he’s not only arrived in a new country and a new league which is different to any other, he’s also arrived at a club that was made for other managers in a way that he is not used to.
“In one season he has to adjust to all those things together and it is not easy, everything requires time. It will take him time to learn and get his players to play in a way that he wants them to do.
“In the meantime we know how football works, you’re going to criticised for not winning every single game 5-0 and that’s what he’s found.”
Elsewhere, Stuart Brennan’s pre-match preview ahead of the Palace trip focused on a certain young Brazilian and the question of whether he will be selected from the start this afternoon.
Writing for Betsafe, he scribed: “That sound of frantic keyboard-tapping you heard on Saturday night was Manchester City fans placing bets on Gabriel Jesus opening his English goalscoring account at Selhurst Park.
“Everything points to the Brazil international being handed his first start by Pep Guardiola in the FA Cup fourth round tie.
“And if the ten minutes of excitement he generated at the Etihad Stadium are anything to go by, the travelling Blues will be unable to contain themselves in south London.
“Jesus looked like a kid out for a kick around in the favela when he jogged out for his debut – he had that cocksure look in his eye, and the assured nature of someone who belongs at the top level.
“When you are the Brazil number nine at the age of 19, that kind of self-belief has been earned.
“The Etihad has had a few big players making debuts down the years, especially in the last eight years, but they hadn’t witnessed that kind of thrill since … well, since Sergio Aguero.”
That’s all for today’s media round-up, we’ll have full coverage of Crystal Palace v Manchester City on mancity.com!
