Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been more than impressed by Newcastle’s start to the Premier League season and has splen positively about Newcastle United’s chances of getting into the Champions League next season.
The former boss of both Barcelona and Bayern Munich labelled the Magpies as “a contender” to get into Europe’s elite competition next term. Newcastle had drawn 3-3 with Manchester City when the campaign kicked off and Guardiola stated he was impressed back in August.
Now, gushing new praise for the Magpies, Guardiola said: “Phewww, they are a contender, a contender to be there. “The manager is Eddie Howe and you know how good he is.
“With the new players that come… and the way they play, brave.”
Man City edged Leicester 1-0 this weekend and Guardiola is certainly aware of the intense rivalry that awaits for the title and the top four.
The City gaffer added: “There will be a lot of teams fighting for the Champions League, fighting for the title. Look now, Newcastle is another part of this, is already there. I saw them last weekend against Tottenham.
“I see the physicality we faced, we played them [Newcastle United] in the third game of the season. Imagine this team Newcastle with one game a week, with no European competition?”