Voices on the game... City

Have a read of what’s being said from inside both camps ahead of Sunday’s clash with Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (4.30pm).

Pep Guardiola

Manchester City manager

On how Jose Mourinho has had an effect on our team since his arrival, Guardiola said: “I saw this morning one game and a half, before then just highlights. I couldn’t say more than that but everybody knows about him and about his personality as a manager. When you take over a team during the season it’s not easy to change or instil something because you don’t have time to train. You always need time but we’ll see in the future.”

Asked whether facing one of Jose’s teams keeps him on his toes, he added: “I think with him or without him I try to do my best. When we faced in Madrid or here it’s because he has top teams, so I have to learn what he does with his teams. But without him, I think I would have done the same.”

Giovani Lo Celso

Spurs midfielder

“We know Manchester City is a great team that has been doing well over the last few years. They play good football, but we also know that we have the talent to beat them.

“The team is doing well. In the last game (at Southampton) we drew in the last couple of minutes, but now we have to play at home. Over the last couple of games we did very good things but there were details that cost us some games and we need to improve those. Now we play at home in front of our fans. I think it’s going to be a great game and hopefully we can get the three points, which can be very important for us.”

On fellow Argentine international Sergio Aguero, he added: “He’s amazing, out of this world. You can see that in every game, what he’s capable of, the records that he’s accomplished in his career – and in a difficult league like this one. Now it’s time to face him as a rival.”

Jose Mourinho

Spurs Head Coach

“Champions, double champions, even more impressive and the potential and number of points, normally, to be champions again. I don’t think they have a problem. The problem is that Liverpool are winning matches and keeping them at a distance. For me, City is the same profile of team, same qualities, same power they’ve had in the last few years.

“So, it’s a very difficult game for us but nobody can tell us we are not going to win because we don’t believe. If at the end of the game we draw or lose, that’s after the game, but before and during the game, nobody is going to take away the belief that we can win the game.”