PEP: MY PHILOSOPHY WON'T CHANGE

PEP GUARDIOLA has launched a staunch defence of his football philosophy by insisting his record at Manchester City speaks for itself.

- BY SIMON MULLOCK

When City failed to win a trophy last season for the first time since 2017, the Catalan admitted that his ageing squad had struggled with the demands of an increasingly physical approach being adopted by other clubs.

Having already spent £180million on Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez and Vitor Reis in January, the Etihad giants have invested another £150m this summer on Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, James Trafford, Sverre Nypan and Marcus Bettinelli.

Guardiola (left) has already seen enough - despite last week's 2-0 home defeat by Tottenham - to insist City will have a successful season.

But when asked if he was tempted to ditch his long held obsession with dominating possession, the City boss pointed out sarcastically: “Yeah, yeah, yeah, after winning 18 titles in 10 years | will change my plan.