Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has spoken about his new defensive signings and believes they can make an impact this season. He was speaking before his side’s meeting with French champions Paris Saint-Germain which ended 4-2 in favour of the French side.
Manchester City have signed 20-year-old Uzbek centre back, Abdukodir Khusanov, and 19-year-old Brazilian centre-back, Vitor Reis, in a double swoop worth €77m from RC Lens and Palmeiras respectively.
Guardiola was quick to welcome his new centre-backs and hoped they would have a long career with the Cityzens stating:
“Welcome to them, to this City family. I’m very pleased. They are really young players. So they come here for many years and a different type. Khusanov plays(played) here in France, so his physicality is extraordinary. Hopefully, he can learn English as quickly as possible and Vitor is a young talent in Brazil so I am really pleased.”
When asked if they would feature straight away Pep was optimistic:
“Well, in the Champions League is not possible, I would say, until we qualify, we know the rules, but now they cannot play tomorrow, cannot play against Brugge. But in case we qualify for the knockout or go to the last 16 all will be possible. But in the Premier League, they are able to play already.”
Manchester City will hope to keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive when they meet fellow hopefuls Chelsea at the Etihad on Saturday.
