Morgan Rogers, Jeremy Doku, and a new centre-back partnership for next season – Every Word from Pep Guardiola’s Aston Villa preview press conference | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has looked ahead to this week’s meeting with Aston Villa in a mammoth clash in the Premier League with a view towards UEFA Champions League football.

Manchester City come into their home encounter with Unai Emery’s side off the back of a resilient performance on the road at Goodison Park, dismissing of Everton via two late goals on Merseyside to ensure another game-week in the top-five.

Nico O’Reilly was once again the hero for Manchester City as the 20-year-old academy graduate found himself on the end of a Matheus Nunes cross to slam home from close range, before Mateo Kovacic would make sure of the victory in injury time.

As for the challengers at the Etihad Stadium this week, Aston Villa come into the clash in a similarly confident mood having dismissed of fellow Champions League hopefuls Newcastle United at Villa Park in a stunning 4-1 win.

Following the release of Pep Guardiola’s preview press conference ahead of Tuesday night’s meeting with Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium, conducted after the weekend’s win at Goodison Park, here is every single word from the boss!

On whether Aston Villa (H) is a game like a final

“Absolutely. And after Aston Villa, the game against Wolves will be a final again, Southampton – because every point, every game counts. But it’s a contender to qualify for the Champions League, both games. And when you see the game they played against my friend Luis Enrique at PSG – I was really, really impressed!

“They can play low block when they play away, and when they decide to go with the weapons they have, the speed they have, the set-pieces, they’re incredibly well-organised with Unai (Emery). It’s a final and we need our people because I think our people want the Champions League next season again. And hopefully they can help us from minute one, don’t wait.

“Sometimes we are sloppy, sometimes we’re not playing good. It’s now, now we need them! We need them desperately to support us, to make noise and being there all the time because it’s a final. Absolutely, it’s a final for us.”

On Morgan Rogers’ time with Manchester City

“He was in the second team and trained sometimes with us. And the glimpse, we could see something like, you know, he could do it. But the impact that has been at Villa has been… What a player! We had an exceptional player here, absolutely!”

On whether Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are an option in the middle of defence for next season

“Yeah, I like him (Josko Gvardiol), especially with the build-up with the left (foot), he’s fast, so fast going in-behind. I think Ruben (Dias) and him as a person, they are so generous, they talk a lot, and especially Ruben.

“And I think they are doing a really, really good partnership, so it’s an option. We’ll see if we buy, I don’t think the club needs central defenders because we have a lot. And we bought two young (players in January). But we’ll see.

“The important (thing) is having a player that can play there, and can play at left-back, and that is so important for us.”

On whether Nico O’Reilly is making it impossible not to play him at left-back despite that not being his natural position

“Well, the season is too long. The impact has been good. Now we have one game a week, so Nico (O’Reilly) has to recover, has to see if he can play every three days, three days like, for example, Bernardo (Silva) has proven or Kevin (De Bruyne) has proven, or Ruben (Dias) has proven.

“So I don’t know if these young players are able to play three games a week during months and months and months. But he’s a reality already, I admire a lot the fact that he’s playing a position he’s never played before.

“He’s learning, of course he has to improve, but with the ball, he’s good, you know, playing there. But, of course, his position is… I’m pretty sure if he plays attacking midfield, every cross he is at the penalty spot. It’s what I like as attacking midfielders. I’m pretty sure.

“Otherwise, no score the goals like he’s scored so far. He likes to be there, has a good shot, and quality in small spaces. And he’s helping us, you know, for the problems that we had in the set pieces. His structure helps.”

On Jeremy Doku

“This season I’ve been so unfair with him in the last games because I remember the games against Spurs away, Brighton for example – without him it would not be possible. But the only reason that they are not playing today, lately is because we didn’t attack in the last games with the wingers.

“We put more full-backs wide and more players in the middle like (against) Bournemouth. But it was not the reason to not play that game. It’s only my reason. I feel sorry for him and for another ones. But today the impact has been much, much better than Old Trafford.

“Old Trafford was not good. And today the impact was; he had the ball, drop the teams, and his threat, arrive to the by-line. Because Jeremy (Doku) in the final third is unstoppable. He’s an incredible, incredible football player. And I’m really pleased that today he played really good.”