Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/795987
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 8 MARCH 2017 20 CITY have revitalised their at- tacking options by signing the likes of Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus over the past two years. But the squad as a whole still has an ageing profile, most notably in defence, and there is a recognition younger blood is required. Manager Guardiola told City TV: "We are buying for the long term. That's why Leroy is here, why Raz is here and why Gabriel is here. All of them are (around) 20 years old. "Except in one or two cases when we need experience, the age is so important. Maybe we are go- ing to buy a guy who is 28 or 29 years old because we are short in that position and he is going to give three or four important years – but of course, as young as pos- sible is much better." City have invested heavily in youth football in recent years in Guardiola is hopeful some Acad- emy graduates will break into his first-team squad in the near future. Guardiola is planning to take some of the better prospects on City's pre-season tour this summer. He said: "I think Manchester City has to be so proud. I am real- ly impressed with the work of the English people, who've worked for a long time here at the Academy. "There are four or five players – of course they are young, only 16, 17 and 18-years-old – that we would like to put on the field and play them, because I know how important it is for the fans to have people who grew up in the Acad- emy. "We cannot put them in without the talent, or if they are not able or willing to take on that challenge, but if they are good enough and they have a passion and they want to become something in Europe and world football, all the players in the Academy have to know we are there (watching). "In the summer, four or five guys will come with us, but it is up to them." Guardiola recently met with owner Sheikh Mansour and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak during a trip to Abu Dhabi and was impressed by their long-term vision. He said: "The people cannot ex- pect we just spend money and the results are immediate. To achieve in football we need time. Money can help to advance that but it is not immediate. "When I spoke with Khaldoon and Sheikh Mansour, I felt this is a commitment for a long time. It doesn't matter who the players or managers will be, that will con- tinue. "They want to help the commu- nity and Manchester to be rec- ognised, not just with one strong team like United, with another one." Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Pep Guardiola transfer policy centres on youth Pep Guardiola has underlined Manchester City's focus on youth in their immediate transfer planning Wenger focuses on 'bigger picture' for Arsenal future ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger, whose contract ex- pires at the end of the season, will make a decision about his future based on the "bigger picture" and not a recent slump in form. Having lost to Watford, Chelsea and Liverpool in re- cent weeks, the North London club are effectively out of the Premier League title race, while they were not ex- pected to overturn a 5-1 deficit to Bayern Munich in the Champions League yesterday. "You do not make this kind of decision focussing on one result or two bad results," the 67-year-old told Brit- ish media. "You have to take a bigger picture and see if you can you take this club to the next level, take yourself to the next level. Are you ready to pay the price for that? "But as well this decision is not necessarily linked with two weeks out of 20 years you know so that's basically... I don't feel I box myself in a corner." Wenger, who has been in the job since 1996, reiterated his stance that he needed to see how his fifth-placed side finished the current season before making up his mind. "I haven't come to a decision yet. I'll wait a bit and see how the season finishes here," he added. "I've been here for 20 years and think I've built the club up. It's important for me that we're always successful and that's why I've given myself a bit of time." Following their midweek European clash against Bay- ern, Arsenal will shift focus to FA Cup quarter-final against fifth-tier Lincoln City on Saturday. Pep Guardiola Arsene Wenger