‘They don’t have’ - Pep Guardiola doubles down on huge Newcastle United claim
Manchester City mastermind Pep Guardiola has backed Newcastle United to be Champions League contenders this season
Pep Guardiola has claimed Manchester City “will be trembling” when they play against Newcastle United.
Both clubs are set to go head-to-head at St James’ Park on September 28, with the Magpies having mixed success against the champions of late. Eddie Howe’s men knocked City out of the Carabao Cup last season but were avenged in the FA Cup six months later.
Oscar Bobb also snatched a last-gasp comeback win for Man City in January - a game best remembered for Kevin De Bruyne’s brilliant cameo appearance. An end-to-end 3-3 draw two years ago was also a recent thriller between the two sides.
Guardiola raised eyebrows a week ago when, citing Newcastle’s schedule, he claimed City’s goal is to qualify for the Champions League. The Spaniard said: "Always at the beginning of the season, the first target is to finish in the top four.
“People say 'Oh, come on'. I say 'No'. Newcastle are not in Europe and are going to play one game a week. Newcastle with one game a week this season will be the Newcastle of two seasons ago.”
Fast forward to the present and Guardiola has doubled down on Newcastle’s potential top-four hopes. The legendary City boss went as far as to suggest his side will be nervous before next month’s clash on Tyneside.
"Newcastle will be back because it's one game a week,” Guardiola said. “They don't have European competition and the energy they play with, the physicality, with just one game a week, we will be trembling. We will be trembling when we play against them."