Pep Guardiola has offered his condolences to former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique after his daughter lost her battle with cancer on Thursday.
Nine-year-old Xana passed away five months after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.
Ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Brighton on Saturday, Guardiola also gave his thoughts on Kyle Walker’s England omission.
The right-back was controversially left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad for next month’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo.
You can read the highlights of Guardiola’s press conference below…
On Luis Enrique’s tragic loss
“We knew it was not good, but always you dream everything is going well. I don’t have words, there is absolutely nothing to say.
“Always you try to find reasons why, but there is no argument for a little girl, only nine years old.
“From Manchester City and my family, we are here, and hopefully soon I can see him and tell him how I love him and his family.”
On Kyle Walker’s England omission
“A little bit [surprising]. I’m not involved. We respect the decision. I think Kyle is coming back and is stronger.
“But the decision, of course I understand it and we support the manager of the national team, Gareth [Southgate], and of course Kyle.
“I’m sure the players want to go to the national team and play but this happens, so you adapt.”
On injuries to John Stones and Gabriel Jesus
“They are much better but I don’t know if they’re available for tomorrow. If they do not play tomorrow they will be ready next week for Norwich.”
On Aymeric Laporte’s call-up to the France national squad
“For me it’s a mistake when I said one of the best, because he is the best left-sided centre-back at the moment.
“I am incredibly grateful to [Didier] Deschamps and so happy for him because he deserves it.
“All of us are so happy for him because he was looking for the call for a long time.”
On Brighton
“They have a new manager and some changes.
“They will play five at the back so they are more aggressive in terms of high press. They start quite well and last game against Southampton played with 10 men for 55 minutes.
“We prepare for the game and try to win it.”
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On the European transfer window not closing at the same time as the English market
“The European window should close like English teams. I support to finish the window when the season starts.
“Here we start a little bit early, but trying to make an agreement for them all to finish at the same time would be the perfect situation.
“We start the Premier League knowing who we are going to have.”
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