‘I am at the best club in England’: Guéhi seals £20m move to Manchester City | Manchester City

Marc Guéhi accomplished a £20m transfer to Manchester Metropolis from Crystal Palace on Monday, with Pep Guardiola describing him as a high-class defender who’s the “good age” and can present an instantaneous increase owing to accidents.

The 25-year-old England worldwide signed a 5‑and‑a-half‑12 months contract value about £300,000 per week after an settlement was reached on Friday.

Guardiola mentioned: “He’s a high central defender taking part in with the nationwide staff. Because of the membership for bringing him right here. He [is] the right age, [can play] for a few years and might play [on the] proper, left.”

With the frontline defenders Rúben Dias, John Stones and Josko Gvardiol injured, Guéhi’s arrival is well timed. “I understand how he needed to decide on us and assist with the issues that we have now within the again within the subsequent few months so it’s actually vital he’s right here,” Guardiola mentioned.

Guéhi mentioned: “This transfer feels just like the fruits of all of the laborious work I’ve put into my profession. I’m now at one of the best membership in England and a part of an unbelievable squad of gamers.”

The defender’s former membership Chelsea are as a result of obtain 20% of the payment, as a part of the bundle that took him to Palace in 2021.

Metropolis journey to Bodø/Glimt within the Champions League on Tuesday evening, sitting in fourth place within the desk, one level forward of Liverpool in ninth. They conclude the league stage at residence towards Galatasaray subsequent week.

The highest eight will go straight in to the last-16 part and, with that in thoughts, Guardiola held a exercise for the squad on the substitute pitch on the Norwegian membership’s Aspmyra Stadion on Monday evening. It was a departure from his ordinary apply of coaching the day earlier than a European match. He’s clear the pitch doesn’t supply an excuse. “Life isn’t a crimson carpet,” he mentioned.

“The faster you adapt to uncomfortable conditions the nearer you might be to success. If I begin to cry due to this, we don’t obtain what we did previously. In fact it’s completely different – that’s why we practice the evening earlier than when we have now by no means executed that earlier than. We now have to see how the ball bounces, how the brief passes and lengthy passes [play].”

Guardiola was questioned in regards to the 2-0 derby defeat at Manchester United on Saturday. “Tomorrow is one other recreation, one other competitors and I look ahead,” he mentioned.

“The schedule is so demanding. Carlos Alcaraz is among the greatest tennis gamers in historical past and I learn an interview with him earlier than the Australian Open that mentioned what I can not think about for me: he had 9 weeks resting. We don’t have that. We now have psychological fatigue, we don’t have time to coach, whereas Carlos Alcaraz is altering a little bit of his serve.”

Guardiola was requested whether or not the Norwegian winger Oscar Bobb could be at Metropolis when the window closes. “I don’t have an thought. He says he’s not match so he’s not match in the meanwhile.”

Bodø’s location throughout the Arctic Circle means the aurora borealis can typically be seen. Guardiola mentioned: “I used to be in Oslo and Lofoten one 12 months in the past and it’s high. I’m not a scientist to analyse why it seems within the sky. Now I simply admire it. With a glass of crimson wine it’s even higher. I shall be within the resort tonight with massive home windows and can get pleasure from it. Why ought to I not see the sky and see how lovely the universe is?”