Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 7y

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says England have players to shine

MANCHESTER -- Pep Guardiola has said he believes England have the quality to succeed on the international stage.

But the Manchester City coach added that Premier League clubs needed more success in the Champions League in order for players to improve.

He said he had been impressed by the standard of English players -- not only Raheem Sterling and John Stones in the first team but also players coming through the academy ranks -- at City.

Guardiola told a news conference: "They are good, good players.

"So when you see Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Deli Alli or John Stones and Raz ([Raheem Sterling], they are top.

"From my point of view, the quality is there. For the national team, maybe they have to focus more on the European competitions to handle those guys at important stages in the big competitions in Europe.

"So when they go to the national team to play Germany or Spain or Italy, no problem. To overcome that situation, you have to live that situation as many times as possible.

"And that's why maybe if they focused a little more about Europe and the national team... the talent is there, I don't have doubts about that. But it was in the past too.

"It's a bit similar at Manchester City. They arrive in Europe and you are able to [succeed] -- but you need time to do that, it's not one day."

Guardiola said he was surprised that England had enjoyed so little tournament success, having not reached the semifinal stage of one since 1996.

The players in the England team at the start of the 21st century were known as the "golden generation," and Guardiola said he felt they should have achieved more.

"I could not imagine the generation of Lampard, Carrick, Scholes, Gerrard, Terry, Ferdinand, that they were not able to do something more. As a spectator, I don't understand," he said.

"For example in Spain they always talk about the midfield generation of Xavi, Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Busquets.

"They are top -- but the players I mentioned before were at the same level. Always I thought 'why?' Maybe one day one of you can answer me why."

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