December 29th 2024.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has expressed his desire to make two signings during the upcoming January transfer window. In order to rejuvenate his team, he is looking for a holding midfielder and a centre-back. After a five-match winless run, City finally ended their drought with a 2-0 win over Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday. This victory has moved them into fifth place, just four points behind the top four.
It has been a tough couple of months for Guardiola's side, as they have struggled to find their form. This is their worst run since Guardiola took over as manager in 2016. Injuries have played a significant role, especially the loss of Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who is unlikely to play for the rest of the season. Additionally, center-backs John Stones and Ruben Dias have also been out of action for the past few games.
Although there were some positive signs on Sunday, with Kevin De Bruyne playing a full 90 minutes for the first time since September, Guardiola knows that his team needs reinforcements in the upcoming transfer window. He told Sky Sports after the game, "Kevin is back, but we need more in the middle and back four. We have struggled with full-backs and central defenders." He continued, "The squad is good, but we don't have enough depth, which makes everything difficult."
Guardiola is aware that the transfer market is not easy and can be expensive, but he is hopeful that the club will be able to make some necessary signings. He mentioned, "The market is the market, it's not easy. We will see what the club can do." The manager is specifically looking for a replacement for the injured Rodri and is keeping an eye on Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo.
When asked about the team's performance, Guardiola admitted that it was not ideal but emphasized the importance of getting the win. He said, "We needed it. It was not the perfect performance, but hopefully, the victories will boost our mood and give us a better position." He added, "We lacked energy in the second half, but I hope that in the new year, we can bounce back from this difficult period."
Overall, Guardiola is optimistic about the future and believes that with the addition of some key players, his team can regain their top form and compete for titles. He said, "When we're all together, we're the team we were. But with important players out for weeks and months, it's been so difficult." He ended by saying, "I thought our central defenders would be fit all season, but we have struggled in that position. We need help in the holding midfield and central defense, and hopefully, we can address those issues in the transfer window."
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