Pep Guardiola is eyeing Community Shield silverware as reigning league champions Manchester City look to kick off the campaign on the right foot. Those questioning the effectiveness of the Spaniard’s coaching methods during his first season in the Etihad Stadium dugout were made to look foolish in a record-breaking second term. City became the first Premier League side to reach 100 points, as well as enjoying the most wins and scoring the most goals en route to claiming the title with a gap of 19 points to Manchester United. Guardiola’s side also won the Carabao Cup, but the manager believes those successes count for little as they prepare to take on Chelsea in the Community Shield on Sunday. Top summer transfer targets 1/8 Top summer transfer targetsWhich Premier League stars have attracted the most transfer attention this summer? Getty Images 2/8 Wilfried ZahaThe Crystal Palace man is often linked with a move away from Selhurst Park and this summer is no different, with Tottenham just one of the clubs interested. Spurs defender Serge Aurier – an Ivory Coast team-mate of Zaha – got Spurs fans excited with a cryptic Instagram post but the winger is likely to cost big. Getty Images 3/8 Toby AlderweireldThe future of the Tottenham defender has been one of the permanent fixtures of the gossip columns this summer as he looks certain to leave Spurs after failing to agree a new contract. Manchester United are reported suitors, along with Paris St Germain, but the London club are holding out for a substantial fee. Danny Rose and Mousa Dembele are other Spurs players who could leave. Getty Images 4/8 Anthony MartialMartial’s situation is another one that has rumbled on all summer. The Frenchman is reported to been keen to leave Manchester United in order to get more game time, with a swap deal including Alderweireld heavily touted. But Jose Mourinho appeared to suggest he will remain at Old Trafford, even though he left the club’s US tour early. Getty Images 5/8 Harry MaguireAfter putting his name up in lights in England’s run to the World Cup semi-final, Maguire has unsurprisingly caught the attention of some of the big boys, with Manchester United rumoured to be ready to spend big. Leicester are desperate to keep the defender, though, so it could come down to how much Mourinho is willing to pay. Getty Images 6/8 Loris KariusKarius’ Liverpool career has looked in doubt ever since his two howlers in the Champions League final last May. The £65million arrival of Alisson appeared to seal his fate and the German is understood to be considering his position, but does not have long to do so. Getty Images 7/8 Danny IngsIngs is another Liverpool player whose days at Anfield look over as the striker is well down the pecking order. Injury has ruined his time at the club, but he could have a way out with Crystal Palace thought to be interested in the former Burnley man. Getty Images 8/8 Thiabout CourtoisThe goalkeeper’s time at Chelsea looks done as he has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid. That move appears – at this stage – to be dependent on whether Maurizio Sarri can bring in a replacement before allowing the Belgian to leave. Getty Images 1/8 Top summer transfer targetsWhich Premier League stars have attracted the most transfer attention this summer? Getty Images 2/8 Wilfried ZahaThe Crystal Palace man is often linked with a move away from Selhurst Park and this summer is no different, with Tottenham just one of the clubs interested. Spurs defender Serge Aurier – an Ivory Coast team-mate of Zaha – got Spurs fans excited with a cryptic Instagram post but the winger is likely to cost big. Getty Images 3/8 Toby AlderweireldThe future of the Tottenham defender has been one of the permanent fixtures of the gossip columns this summer as he looks certain to leave Spurs after failing to agree a new contract. Manchester United are reported suitors, along with Paris St Germain, but the London club are holding out for a substantial fee. Danny Rose and Mousa Dembele are other Spurs players who could leave. Getty Images 4/8 Anthony MartialMartial’s situation is another one that has rumbled on all summer. The Frenchman is reported to been keen to leave Manchester United in order to get more game time, with a swap deal including Alderweireld heavily touted. But Jose Mourinho appeared to suggest he will remain at Old Trafford, even though he left the club’s US tour early. Getty Images 5/8 Harry MaguireAfter putting his name up in lights in England’s run to the World Cup semi-final, Maguire has unsurprisingly caught the attention of some of the big boys, with Manchester United rumoured to be ready to spend big. Leicester are desperate to keep the defender, though, so it could come down to how much Mourinho is willing to pay. Getty Images 6/8 Loris KariusKarius’ Liverpool career has looked in doubt ever since his two howlers in the Champions League final last May. The £65million arrival of Alisson appeared to seal his fate and the German is understood to be considering his position, but does not have long to do so. Getty Images 7/8 Danny IngsIngs is another Liverpool player whose days at Anfield look over as the striker is well down the pecking order. Injury has ruined his time at the club, but he could have a way out with Crystal Palace thought to be interested in the former Burnley man. Getty Images 8/8 Thiabout CourtoisThe goalkeeper’s time at Chelsea looks done as he has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid. That move appears – at this stage – to be dependent on whether Maurizio Sarri can bring in a replacement before allowing the Belgian to leave. Getty Images “Momentum was a time ago, it was last season,” the City boss said. “We don’t have momentum because we didn’t start, not yet. “Of course, we want to win, it’s the final. “We tried in our short time together to review what we have done, analyse a little bit what Chelsea will be to try and see what we have to do, and play the final. “Of course, we want to win with the situation we have. Sarri setting his hopes high at Chelsea ahead of season curtain-raiser “Also, for Chelsea it is not the ideal situation – they’ve had more time together in this part, but we have the work from the last two seasons. “We are going to try if the condition is coming, to see what we worked on in this short time works or not. “Every game will show you if you are in a good path or not, then in one week we have to go to the Emirates against Arsenal.” Guardiola pledged to go for condition over quality as he looks to select a side capable of beating Chelsea and juggles the late return of many of his World Cup stars. Sterling is unlikely to feature against Arsenal (EPA) Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne are the only remaining absentees, putting their availability for the Premier League clash at Arsenal next Sunday in doubt. But the duo are sure to be key going forwards as City attempt to become the first team since Manchester United in 2008-09 to retain the Premier League crown. In recent seasons the reigning champions have gone off the boil the following season, with Sunday’s opponents Chelsea trundling home in fifth last term. De Bruyne could also miss out (Getty) Asked what makes it such a difficult ask, Guardiola said: “I don’t know. I’ve had this situation in Barcelona and Bayern Munich and we were able to repeat and make back-to-back. “Here maybe because it’s more complicated for the contenders. All the teams are good, that’s why every time we reflect with perspective what we have done last season I am really impressed. “Imagine now at the start, we’re going to make 100 points? So the situation is the same as it was at my first press conference: impossible. So that’s why with perspective we realise how good it is. But the target is what you have to do. I don’t know the hunger we have. We will see. “I don’t have an answer for that, just I try to repeat what we have done in Barcelona and Bayern Munich, to be harder with my players. I think that’s the best way. Guardiola wants to start his season on a winning note (Getty) “Because if you don’t, after winning you’re ‘OK, I am really good’ and that’s the moment when we start to go down. “I have to be clear with them – the guys who are good say you are good, if you’re bad I am going to say you’re bad. “You know, try be fair with what I see on the pitch and off the pitch, and try to choose the right line-ups, win games and try game-by-game to do our best.” Follow the Independent Sport on Instagram here, for all of the best images, videos and stories from around the sporting world. Source link The post Chelsea vs Manchester City: Pep Guardiola insists his side start from scratch in season curtain-raiser appeared first on 10z Soccer. #ChelseaVsManchesterCity #PepGuardiola #CurtainRaiser
