West Ham Vs Manchester City, EPL Preview: Players To Watch, Key Battles, Head-To-Head, Prediction

Guardiola, who has led City to four successive Premier League titles, will go up against compatriot Julen Lopetegui when his team travel to West Ham on Saturday

Pep Guardiola, Julen Lopetegui, EPL, Football

Pep Guardiola and Julen Lopetegui

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says the secret to the success of Spanish coaches is their development when it comes to the tactical side of the game. (More Football News)

Guardiola, who has led City to four successive Premier League titles, will go up against compatriot Julen Lopetegui when his team travel to West Ham on Saturday.

It has been a summer of success for Spain on the international stage, with La Roja winning Euro 2024 before their Under-23s won gold at the Paris Olympics.

Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Andoni Iraola form the rest of the Spanish contingent of managers in the Premier League, and Guardiola shared what he believes is the reason for coaches from his nation enjoying such success.

 
Erling Haaland scored his seventh Premier League hat-trick on Saturday - null
Manchester City 4-1 Ipswich Town: Pep Guardiola Hails Pressing ‘Animal’ Erling Haaland

BY Stats Perform

“The secret is [Spanish coaches] work really well from early ages on tactics, on methodologies, to understand the game,” he told Man City’s official media channels.

“So in a team sport, you need to acknowledge why things happen. Spanish coaches work really well to understand the game.

“Today, all the managers and coaches are really well prepared. That’s why the football is getting better and better.”

Guardiola added that competition is what drives him on.

“I think the competition itself ignites something in all of us. Why should it stop? I think when it stops, you should retire,” he said.

 

“When the competition comes, we say okay, let’s try it again. That mentality is always there.

“Managers always drink knowledge from the staff, from the players – it’s not always me to the other people. It’s a back and forth, not in just one direction.

“Just to have nice people around you is the most important thing, to have the good vibes in the team. If not it’s always conflict – conflict is the enemy that can beat you. The rest has to be a healthy, nice environment.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

West Ham – Michail Antonio

Antonio has been involved in 99 Premier League goals for West Ham (67 goals, 32 assists), and could be the first player to reach 100 for the club.

Five of these have been against Man City (three goals, two assists), with the Jamaican only having a hand in more against four clubs (Crystal Palace, Tottenham, Liverpool and Watford).

Manchester City – Erling Haaland

Haaland has scored 16 goals in 10 Premier League appearances in August, averaging a goal every 52 minutes, the best minutes-per-goal ratio by a player in a particular month in Premier League history (min. 500 minutes played).

MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER CITY WIN

City have lost none of their 16 Premier League meetings with West Ham under Guardiola (W14 D2). It is the joint-most a manager has faced a specific opponent without ever losing in the competition’s history (Alex Ferguson vs Charlton also 16).

The champions are unbeaten in 21 Premier League games so far in 2024 (W18 D3), their longest unbeaten run from the start of a calendar year in league history. Overall, they are unbeaten in 25 Premier League games, winning the last 11 in a row.

City have scored more away goals against West Ham than they have against any other opponent in the Premier League (42). Meanwhile, their 25 goals at the London Stadium is the most an away team has scored at a specific venue in the Premier League since its opening in 2016-17.

West Ham are winless in their last 17 Premier League meetings with City (D3 L14) since a 2-1 away win in September 2015. Indeed, City have lost just one of their last 14 away league games against the Hammers (W8 D5), and are unbeaten in their last nine visits since a 2-1 loss at Upton Park in October 2014.

The Hammers have conceded at least once in each of their last 10 Premier League home games, last having a longer run without a clean sheet between April and December 2009 (12).

Only Liverpool and Nottingham Forest (37 each) have had more shots than West Ham (32) in the opening two Premier League games this season. However, only three sides (Everton, Southampton, Ipswich Town) have had fewer attempts on target than the Hammers (six).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

West Ham – 16.4%

Man City – 64%

Draw – 19.6%

Related Posts

Sergio Aguero’s Picks: The Ultimate Premier League Winger Duo Revealed as Man United Pair Left Out – Man City Icon Highlights Standout Star in Top Club

Sergio Aguero, the renowned Manchester City icon, has shared his thoughts on his preferred wingers in the Premier League. He specifically highlighted one exceptional player from a…

Kyle Walker Excludes Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden in Naming His Top Man City Companion

When questioned about the best player he has played with at Manchester City, Kyle Walker surprised everyone with his response. Despite currently playing alongside top talents like…

Unveiled: The Barcelona Duo Who Left Ilkay Gundogan Disheartened During His Time in Catalonia – Following His Unexpected Reunion with Manchester City

Ilkay Gundogan reportedly left Barcelona feeling disappointed due to the behavior of two of his former teammates. Despite spending just one season in Catalonia after leaving Manchester…

Kevin De Bruyne’s Mysterious Morning After Controversial Statement: A Look at His Unanswered Questions and Sleepless Night

Kevin De Bruyne was recently seen looking sombre alongside his wife during a visit to a charity center in Belgium. This came shortly after the Manchester City…

Emotional Moment as Man City’s Nathan Ake Faces Injury Woes in Netherlands vs Germany Nations League Showdown

During an international match with the Netherlands, Nathan Ake suffered a serious injury and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. The Manchester City…

Is Manchester City’s Kyle Walker guilty of using his phone while driving his luxury Mercedes van? Football star caught holding device behind the wheel amidst scandal with Lauryn Goodman.

Shortly after his affair was highlighted on TV, Kyle Walker was captured driving his £60,000 Mercedes Vito Tourer with his iPhone in hand. This was the first…