Man City mood lifted by three wins, says Guardiola

LONDON (AFP): Pep Guardiola said Monday the mood at Manchester City has been lifted by three straight wins but was cagey regarding potential recruits to strengthen his injury-hit squad in January.

Premier League champions City had won just one of 13 matches in all competitions before their 2-0 victory at Leicester on December 29.

They then overwhelmed West Ham 4-1 in Julen Lopetegui’s final game in charge of the London club before smashing fourth-tier Salford 8-0 in the FA Cup third round last weekend.

“Before, it was impossible to win one, so now we’ve won three and that helps us,” Guardiola said on the eve of Tuesday’s league match at Brentford.

“But the reality is we’ve won against a team in the last game for the difference of the Premier League and League Two and the badges for both teams and for many reasons we should win.

“We did it quite well, but still we have to wait to see who we are. You know who we are, but of course the mood is better.”

He added: “We have an enormously difficult game (against Brentford). Thomas (Frank) and his team always create a lot of problems. They are a fantastic, fantastic team.”

Brentford went out of the FA Cup on Saturday after a 1-0 home loss to second-tier Plymouth but their home record in the Premier League is second only to that of leaders Liverpool.

City are sixth in the league table, just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the hunt for Champions League football next season.

Guardiola said there was no update on the situation regarding captain Kyle Walker, who has expressed a desire to play abroad.

The England right-back, 34, has not started a game for City since the 2-1 loss to Manchester United in mid-December.

Guardiola said he would decide later Monday whether Walker would be in the squad for Tuesday’s match in London.

He was also tightlipped when asked about reports that City have agreed a fee with Lens for defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

“The club didn’t announce anything,” he said. “I don’t know.”