- Pep Guardiola laughed when asked about Man United’s start to the season
- The Red Devils are thirteenth in the Premier League, after three defeats from five
- Listen to the latest episode of the Mail Sport podcast It all starts!
Pep Guardiola laughed when asked about Manchester United’s start to the 2023/24 season during a recent press conference.
The Red Devils have had a torrid start to the new season, losing three of their first five games after suffering defeats to Spurs, Arsenal and Brighton.
And ahead of their Champions League opener against FK Crvena Zvezda on Tuesday, rival boss Guardiola was asked about the Red Devils’ early form.
Discussing his team’s chances of retaining the league title, the Spaniard said: ‘You know how strong Arsenal are, yesterday at Goodison Park they were exceptional. Liverpool again, the mentality will continue there.”
One of the reporters present then interrupts to bring up the name of City’s rivals, to which Guardiola chuckles.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola laughed when asked about Man United’s start to the season
The Red Devils have suffered defeat in three of their first five Premier League matches
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The City boss then says: ‘Well, they haven’t started the way they expected, like Chelsea. But it’s always Man United and sooner or later Chelsea will take over the rhythm.”
“But it’s important for us: after winning the treble, winning five out of five is really good.”
United’s recent 3-1 defeat at home to Brighton has led to suggestions that the club is in disarray amid the off-field problems surrounding Antony and Jadon Sancho.
Red Devils fans will be hoping their side can turn their fortunes around when they take on German champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
However, club legend Rio Ferdinand recently warned that former Tottenham striker Harry Kane will have ‘the bit between his teeth’ against United.
‘I can not wait. Look at the clubs. Two clubs with a huge history,” said Ferdinand TNT Sports.
‘The background of Harry Kane who was also there, the England captain, someone who a lot of Man Utd fans would have wanted to come and wear the United shirt.
‘He is a phenomenal player, his record speaks for itself. Champions League football, he’s been there, he’s produced before, he’s been to a final (in 2019) but never won it. He doesn’t have any cutlery in his hands, so the piece will be between his teeth.’
A disappointing defeat to Brighton has left a sour taste ahead of their clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening
City, meanwhile, will begin their European journey against FK Crvena Zvezda as they look to defend the title they first won in May.
Arsenal, last year’s runners-up in the Premier League, host Dutch side PSV, while Newcastle take on AC Milan in their return to the Champions League.
Liverpool, which Guardiola mentioned in his press conference, returns to the Europa League this week, with West Ham and Brighton as guides.
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa will participate in the Europa Conference League for the first time in their history when they take on Legia Warszawa on Thursday.