Guardiola ‘so happy’ with Man City youngsters despite defeat

Pep Guardiola: Happy with performance despite loss

Pep Guardiola: Happy with performance despite loss

Pep Guardiola was satisfied with Manchester City’s performance in his first pre-season game in charge despite a narrow 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich.

The friendly was settled when Erdal Ozturk’s shot deflected off Gael Clichy into the back of the net past the unfortunate Willy Caballero.

It was a youthful squad containing no fewer than 12 academy players as Guardiola returned to the Allianz Arena for the first time since taking over at City.

Young midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko made his debut for the club after signing from FC Ufa earlier this month.

Others impressed for City including Brandon Barker, Pablo Maffeo and Angelino and Guardiola was quick to praise the effort of his young team.

“I am so happy, we did many things we spoke about well and in the right moment – that’s why we cannot forget which team we played.”

“We had Pablo Maffeo and Angelino who played amazing and of course, Brandon Barker and Zinchenko. We need time and these games to see their level and if, during the season, we can use them.”

“All in all, I’m satisfied with what they’ve shown me.”

Guardiola has also spoken publicly about his interest in signing 20-year-old German winger Leroy Sane for Schalke but says a deal to bring him in is stilla long way off.

“Sane is a player of Schalke. Of course we talk to him – Schalke knows we are interested but at this moment we don’t have many possibilities to get him.

“There’s a difference between City and Schalke and it’s quite big but I don’t know what’s going to happen in the coming weeks and months.”

City will now be travelling to China for the next leg of their pre-season tour, playing Manchester United in Beijing on Monday.