Pep Guardiola feels Manchester City has not created a fortress style environment at the Etihad Stadium despite their Premier League record in the same place.
The Champions have so far won their last 44 Premier League matches at home. This is a record they will hope to improve when they host Wolves this coming Sunday.
Although, Guardiola does not feel that the visiting teams are intimidated by the statistics. He claims that his side’s good results are down to their hard work.
When questioned if City has made the Etihad into a fortress, the boss responded, “My feeling is no.”
“I cannot imagine when teams before the game are not thinking we can do it.”
“I know the managers and how competitive all of them are, how they’ll try to seduce the players and say we can do it. They will be thinking we can go and do a good game.”
“Sometimes we don’t win but when we do, it is because we do something good.”
“We have to try it against a team we know quite well. We have played many times against Nuno Espirito Santo’s team in the Carabao Cup and League and other stuff.”
Despite this, Guardiola is proud of his team’s home record. He feels they have underpinned their title successes of the past two seasons.
He said, “In some moments you need the luck to win games, to make a lot of points, win titles.”
“But we have effort and very good things, so I’m proud of the effort and the way we have done it.”
“Our first season was not consistent. We had problems. I didn’t expect it when I landed here. I thought at home we would be strong and away from tough but it was completely the opposite in the first season.”
“But since then, the second, third and his season, we have been strong at home. To try to win titles you have to be strong at home or you have no chance.”
Fernandinho’s fate
With John Stones and Aymeric Laporte out on injury, Fernandinho is set to continue in central defense for City alongside Nicolas Otamendi.
Guardiola is confident that the 34-year-old Brazil midfielder is confident to handle it despite it being his third game in just over a week.
He said, “He did not have many minutes in legs before these three games. Except in the last part of last season; in the previous seasons; he has played every three days over 11 months. So I think he can do it.”