New Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola Strikes Right Tone on Debut

Whereas Sunday’s unveiling of Pep Guardiola was a gentle start to life as Manchester City manager, an opportunity for the fans to welcome him to the club and make their excitement clear, Friday marked his first real test. He faced the media for the first time since taking the reins, taking questions about his transfer plans, tactics, aspirations, reasons for joining City and his knowledge of the Premier League.

He was, as is expected of the world’s most coveted manager, relaxed—assured of his place at the very top of the game. He offered a note of caution, saying he needs time to adapt and get to know his players, and he was humble throughout, yet he also managed to exude a confidence befitting his status.

“I think my career, always the people are going to demand of my teams,” he said. “The way we are going to train to try to win as much as possible. At the end that is good.

“Maybe we are not going to win every day—but we are going to try.”

His squad isn’t complete yet, and he knows he must make further additions.

“I think all the clubs in the world try to make the best squad as possible,” he said, suggesting more signings were in the offing.

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"I'm sorry, maybe here is not the right place to explain about the new players. For respect for the players, for the other clubs, but I realise immediately how good the journalists in England are and of course you are going to discover what is our target and what we want for the next season.

"We are going to try and move a little bit the squad, and we are going to try."

He has, of course, already captured Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund, a bargain at just less than £20 million. He’s a midfielder cast in the Guardiola mould: intense without the ball but technically proficient, too.

Nolito has also arrived, an underwhelming signing in the eyes of many, but at £13.8 million he barely made a dent in this summer’s budget and is likely to provide creativity. Oleksandr Zinchenko, at £1.7 million, is another smart capture, but the Ukrainian teenager’s development will continue elsewhere for the time being as he prepares for life in the City first team.

Guardiola needs more if he wants to return City to the summit of the Premier League after two seasons of regression. His defence has too many weaknesses to hold firm in his ultra-attacking style, and there’s a lack of energy across the pitch. The right additions between now and the season’s opener are vitally important.

One area he is completely satisfied with, though, is the club’s youth and first-team training facility. The City Football Academy (CFA), opened in 2014, offers everything needed to fully prepare his players for the challenge of winning silverware. “Amazing,” was Guardiola’s assessment.

"If we are not playing well, the facilities are not the reason for that. It's amazing for the community, for Manchester and of course for the first-team squad and especially for the young players, the academy.

"It's the best place to belong. It's really amazing. Congratulations to Manchester City for that.”

There was a welcome message for the City fans. After the disappointment of last season, where Manuel Pellegrini’s side often looked laboured and lacking spirit, Guardiola has promised to deliver a team the City fans can be proud of.

“We are going to try to do our best for our people, especially for our players to be happy with what they do,” he said.

"And obviously for our fans, at the end to try and be proud. If our fans are proud with what they do, and what they see, because the fans around the world are so intelligent. When they see their players, they realise immediately if they are committed or what they do or not and of course we are going to try.”

Those will be welcome words to a set of supporters who felt their club wilfully stagnated last season.

Friday’s press conference marked the true beginning of his time as City boss. His training sessions are increasing in intensity, and the squad’s preparations will steadily increase in preparation for their Premier League opener at home to Sunderland on August 13.

They play Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in 12 days' time, before embarking on a tour of China that sees them take in matches against Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund, before flying to Gothenburg, Sweden, to face Arsenal.

Guardiola has plenty to do to polish and finalise his squad—but the steely determination he displayed when addressing the press suggests he’s ready for the challenge.

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And no one should underestimate the challenge. The Premier League is intense, with a depth of quality Guardiola hasn’t faced during his career as a manager.

"I know how difficult here in England what I saw in the past three, four or five years,” he said. “To find a team to win four, five, six games in a row is not easy. All the people talk about that. All the managers that have more experience than me in England talk about that. Maybe that is the challenge. To try to be more consistent in our game.”

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and follows the club from a Manchester base. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.