Newcastle United’s improvement this season is no surprise, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said on Friday as he backed the Tyneside club to remain in and around the top of the Premier League despite their momentum having stalled in recent weeks.
Six successive victories in the league heading into the New Year had Newcastle cemented in the top-four but they have won only one of their last seven games and are struggling for goals. After finishing 11th last season, Eddie Howe’s side is now four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with two games in hand. City are second, five points off leaders Arsenal.
“They have not been here (at the top) a long time, always you think they need time, but they’ve done exceptional recruitment,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of a City’s home game against Newcastle on Saturday.
“They’ve signed experienced players, exactly what they need, they have a manager with huge quality, maybe they were a surprise but not anymore. I think they’ll stay there."
“They are one of the toughest opponents we have until the end of the season, in terms of experience, threat, transitions, set pieces - they are the best team in the league. Many, many things. That is why they have been there all season.”
Guardiola also provided an update on defenders John Stones and Aymeric Laporte, as well as goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, saying the trio have “trained, and they feel better, much better.”
Conte’s return
Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte will return to London to take the reins of the team again following his gallbladder surgery but only after they play Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend, his assistant Cristian Stellini said on Friday.
Conte has been recovering in Italy, making a quick return for a defeat at Leicester City in mid-February before being told to rest and recover again. He will be back on the touchline for Spurs’ Champions League last-16 second leg at home to AC Milan.
“He (Conte) said he will come back this week. Straight after the match against Wolves he will be in London. He will be in charge again from Sunday,” Stellini told reporters. Meanhile, Graham Potter insists he still has the backing of Chelsea’s owners. He, however, took responsibility for the club’s awful run of results saying it rests squarely on his shoulders.
Reuters
