MANCHESTER CITY BOSS Pep Guardiola blasted a report in Chinese state media as “false” today after the Premier League champions were accused of showing “utter disrespect” during their tour of China.
Guardiola hit out at the lengthy commentary posted on the English-language website of Xinhua, the state news agency, which said Manchester City snubbed fans and only visited China for commercial reasons.
“I don’t agree but I should say too that it’s false. To make a statement like this they have to know exactly what’s happening in our club,” Guardiola told media in Hong Kong.
“I don’t understand how people can say that. Maybe one journalist is a little bit upset, I don’t know why. But it’s far away from what is reality,” he added.
The detailed opinion piece, which ran under the headline ‘Chinese fans’ love for Man City goes unreciprocated on home soil’, accused City of an “attitude of arrogance” and said they were in China out of a “desire to win wallets, not hearts and minds”. and lashed out at arrangements for Chinese media, brought a sour end to a difficult tour of mainland China.
A frazzled City — minority-owned by a Chinese state investment company — arrived two days late and played two games in four days, before heading off for further friendlies in Hong Kong and Japan.
“So we came here, 23 hours. One day later we travelled two hours by train to play in another city, then came back to Shanghai and now here, and then we’re going to Tokyo,” Guardiola said.
“And always with the biggest smile. We don’t sleep that well during the night but we had good training sessions. I’m impressed with all my players, what they have done so far.”
Guardiola, who earlier said the whirlwind visit was all about “survival”, will take City into the Community Shield against Liverpool in less than two weeks.
England striker Raheem Sterling said he thought the players had made a “really good connection” with fans during their time in China.
“We took a little bit longer than we expected to get to China, the turnaround was a bit fast and there was a lot we had to catch up on as well. A lot of us have been struggling with sleep,” he said.
“But no, in China I thought it was a great experience. We all loved it.”
Guardiola also insisted he felt completely safe in Hong Kong, which has been rocked by weeks of anti-government protests and where a stick-wielding mob indiscriminately attacked people at a railway station on Sunday, injuring dozens.
“I’m pretty sure that people are going to reach an agreement,” he said. “Just sit and talk like human beings. Both sides talk and talk and they are going to solve the problem.”
Wednesday’s friendly against Hong Kong club Kitchee could be affected by the political turmoil, as there have been calls for a protest against Hong Kong police during the game.
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O Shea is diving all over the place when anyone comes near him and then he is complaining when a free is given against him when he effectively clothes lines a Galway player.
@Finnster: You could say he is hanging them out to dry
@Finnster: must be cold in Galway. They have the blanket well and truly out.
Mayo have been poor in attack. OShea keeping in the game. Galway can’t handle him.
@Finnster: pathetic from Galway at the end with the game won. OShea really has the patience of a saint. And he gets booked as well. Laughable.
@Desheen: agreed. Comer is turning into a very good player but he needs to stop the mouthing while it was pathetic by Paul conroy at the end. Galway still need to do it on a big day and in croker though, potentially a good team.
@Paul Mallon: I think Mayo still need to do it on big day in croker too
@thomas: yea fair point. Hopefully Galway really push on as the gaa need as many teams as possible competing come August time.
@Finnster: are you for real . We’re you at the game ? Mayo can’t take the beating. Galway are no angels but Mayo were filthy today.
@Finnster: and dey didnt beat de dubs in the final…
@Finnster: Mayo were drawn into it alright and are rightly no angles. I was referring to that specific incident. Mayo lost the heads also after that. Galway deserves the win but that was hard to watch. Fair play to them great start to d1.
It will be nice and spicy come the championship. How bad was the last ten minutes? Only heard it on the radio.sounded like a few cheap shots but I am glad Galway are showing some serious spine. Our football team was too nice for a long time.
Safe to say O’Connors league campaign hasent got off to the best of starts
@Sam Walsh: He’s good but he’s a liability, about time he was shown a red card
@Sam Walsh: hes no diarmud connolly.
@John Boyle: Maybe so but I wouldent be too worried if I was a Mayo fan. Still a top class side.
Delighted to see a ref brave enough to send that tramp O’Connor off. He’s always at it. But but but Mayo aren’t dirty of course.
@Ciara Baines: agreed , he was the same last year in the championship against Galway and now O Shea is at it. Galway slowly but surely coming good
@Ciara Baines: mayo are pure dorty . Dey were throwin gps’s at the dubs in the final last year