Pep Guardiola has urged Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva to stay at Manchester City ahead of the Community Shield on Sunday.
City travel to Wembley to take on Arsenal in the season’s curtain-raiser, a matter of weeks after completing only the second Treble in English football.
Guardiola, who confirmed Josko Gvardiol is close to completing his move to Manchester, was at pains to talk up the impact of two of the club’s most consistent performers who have been linked with exits this summer.
‘Kyle and Bernardo, what can I say?’ the City boss told reporters on Friday. ‘They are so important to us. We want them and will do everything.
‘We want him to stay because he wants to stay. We will do everything. Replacing these two would be so difficult.’
Pep Guardiola will be hoping for more silverware in his eighth season as Man City manager
Kyle Walker has been linked with a move to German champions Bayern Munich with Barcelona interested in Bernardo Silva (left)
The Premier League champions have had an uncharacteristically quiet summer thus far that has been more notable for outgoings.
The Blues lost the experience and quality of skipper Ilkay Gundogan, who joined LaLiga champions Barcelona, and Riyad Mahrez, who left for Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ahli.
City’s Sunday opponents by contrast have retooled in an effort to finally topple Guardiola’s men with the marquee additions of Jurrien Timber, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice.
The Manchester club were briefly interested in the 24-year-old midfielder but were unwilling to challenge Arsenal his £105m signing.
Guardiola was magnanimous in his comments about the former West Ham captain as said he believes Rice could be a crucial addition for the Mikel Arteta’s side.
‘Rice decided on Arsenal. All the best,’ he continued, ‘He’s an important player, a very nice guy and for England will be important. For Arsenal, what an incredible player.’
Arsenal spent a club-record £105m fee to bring Declan Rice to the Emirates in the window
Arteta has assembled a squad he hopes can go one better than last year’s second place finish
The Gunners are anticipated by many to be City’s nearest challengers this season and they will be keen to lay the first blow on Sunday.
Whatever the outcome Guardiola is aware his team will need to endure a mental gauntlet of sorts to reach the heights of last season and become the first team in English football to win four successive league titles.
‘The challenge is massive for us mentally and how we grow as a team football-wise to sustain that level,’ he added. ‘It’s almost impossible but the challenge is that. How hungry we still are, our desire.
‘Over the next 11 months, we will have many low moments, it’s how we come back.’
