Burnley vs. Manchester City: Pep Guardiola’s Key Pre-Match Presser Comments

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has quashed speculation that he could link up with former Barcelona charge Lionel Messi ahead of his side’s Premier League clash against Burnley on Saturday. Meanwhile, captain Vincent Kompany is set for a spell out of action and Sergio Aguero is a doubt for the clash.

The Mirror (h/t Metro.co.uk’s Simon Rice) recently reported that a £200 million package deal could bring Messi to the Etihad Stadium, but Guardiola told the media on Friday that his former talisman won’t be leaving the Camp Nou, per City’s official Twitter account:

PEP: I told you more than once Messi will stay at Barcelona. #mcfc

— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 25, 2016

In regards to Saturday’s domestic encounter, a knee injury has ruled Kompany out of the Burnley meeting, and it’s now a doubt as to whether City’s captain will feature again in 2016.

Guardiola added that while star striker Aguero is not injured, both he and Pablo Zabaleta will be tested on Friday afternoon to assess whether they stand a chance of playing against the Clarets this weekend.

Guardiola confirmed that his centre-back will be ruled out for four to six weeks before ruling the recently returned Yaya Toure out as an option in central defence, citing the Ivorian as a valuable attacking asset, per City’s official website:

Dr Cugat confirmed what the doctors here said. It is a ligament problem. He will be …

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