Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has said that his new side have no excuse not to play with 'soul' in their Premier League opener vs Sunderland on the weekend.
Speaking in a press conference (viaThe Sun)ahead of the match, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach admitted that it would take time to get to the required level, but didn't see any reason for his team to sell themselves short against the Black Cats.
To create something, we need time. But to play with soul, with something inside, we don't need time.
We are not going to accept not playing with soul. That is what I want from my players.
I don't know if we're going to play good but I won't accept if we don't play with soul. We play tomorrow from the first day.
That's what I'm looking for from our team. I want our fans in the Etihad to see that. I want my players to play their football with pleasure inside.�
Guardiola confirmed that England keeper Joe Hart would be starting in goal, amid all the speculation linking him with an exit.
The manager is said to want Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to be his number one during the season, but would not be drawn in on the subject.
Joe is a player I'm so happy about his qualities, his behaviour, what he means to this club.
After we are going to decide inside the doors. Now, he is a player of us.�