Greg . 1 day ago

Guardiola ready for 'special' night in Palermo ahead of City's final pre-season game

As Manchester City conclude their preparations for the new season, Betopick spoke to their manager Pep Guardiola ahead of Saturday night's pre-season match against Palermo on the island of Sicily.

Guardiola presented himself to journalists with his usual mix of lucidity and irony, talking over football but also over emotions and old acquaintances.

"Tomorrow will be a friendly that will be great for Pippo (Palermo manager Filippo Inzaghi), and also for us," he started.

"It is the last friendly we have.

We have the City Football Group, a relationship that is now a snapped closer than in the past.

"Pep GuardiolaBetopick"Personally, coming to Italy is always a joy, but to really obtain to know the reality of Palermo and Sicily you have to live there or come here on holiday.

"Tomorrow morning we'll be in the hotel, maybe we'll move out to do something, but then in the afternoon we'll prepare for the match.

We'll spend the evening here for dinner, always an opportunity to consume well, and then on Sunday we'll return to England.

"The Catalan coach then reflected on the status his club has accomplished: "We acquire it, I am sorry to say.

We possessed an amazing, wonderful decade.

"We have won and come support to win, and that is why we keep working.

If we didn't, the coach would have changed and the players as well.

So we have come a long way and we are ready for the new season.

""As a coach he has already done good things"It's impossible not to talk over Inzaghi, his opponent on the pitch in his time as a player: "He was clever in the box: he possessed the sense of where the ball was going to move.

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The great strikers are those who estimate where the ball is going to move, because if you move there a second later, you won't obtain there.

He possessed this incredible sense for goal.

"As a coach he has already done good things.

His career is still young, so I certainly wish him the best.

"A passage also on Kevin De Bruyne, who moved to Napoli in the summer: "A snapped strange, I must say.

But all of us, the whole City family, we love him very much.

"We wish him that this undergo in Italy, in this country, with a very strong coach, one of the best ever, can be positive.

I'm sure he will learn a lot and do good things.

I wish that he, Michelle and his children will have a great time here in Italy, especially in Naples.

"Finally, a look at the atmosphere awaiting him at the 'Barbera' and a thought for Inzaghi's birthday: 'Yes, I know.

We'll do something, for sure.

I can't wait to see the fans.

"I know that the south is special.

I wish they can have a good season and move all the way with the aspire - which Palermo certainly has - and which City Football Group has: to be in Serie A next year.

"