Pep mancity
Pep Guardiola admits toppling Manchester United is his 'biggest challenge as a manager' in Amazon TV show as City stars turn out for premiere - including injured Kevin De Bruyne on crutches.
Manchester City's stars showed up in numbers for the premiere of 'All Or Nothing', the new Amazon series documenting their 2017-2018 title-winning triumph - with Kevin De Bruyne on crutches after suffering a training ground injury earlier on Wednesday.
And in the first episode Pep Guardiola admitted that toppling Manchester United would represent his 'biggest challenge as a manager'.
The City boss admits: 'We have neighbours who for 15 or 20 years have always won. I think that my biggest challenge as a manager is to change that.'
There were plenty of revelations during the premiere, with Sergio Aguero reflecting on his friendship with United No 1 David de Gea.
Aguero, whose son Benjamin lives with his mother in Argentina and visits him for one week every month, explained: 'I hang out a lot with David because we played together for Atletico Madrid. We have a good friendship from Atletico... but he now plays for United and I play for City.'
The Argentine admits he 'really suffered' during his first season at the club as he adjusted to English football, despite his final day heroics.
He said: 'The first season I was here, I really suffered. There was a match we played in the snow – it was horrible. There was ice on my face, and I almost asked to be subbed off. I swear my hands hurt, my face, everything.'
Despite the feel good factor around the new documentary, City were rocked on Wednesday by the news that De Bruyne - so integral to last season's success - faces an extended spell on the sidelines.
The Belgian midfielder, dressed in a dark hoody and trousers, sported a brace on his right leg after undergoing scans on the injury.
The 27-year-old will undergo further tests to examine the extent of the damage but the news comes as a bitter pill for Pep Guardiola.
Also present at the event are stars including Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho, who were part of the squad documented in the £10million Amazon series.
Early footage released from the show sees Pep Guardiola launch into a passionate half-time team talk during the club's FA Cup final victory over Arsenal.
The boss is also present at the premiere, arriving with members of his backroom team including Xabier Mancisidor and under-18 Goalkeeper coach Richard Wright.
Brazil internationals Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho were among the early arrivals at the event, held at Manchester's Printworks.
Fellow World Cup stars Walker and John Stones also made an appearance, having both played in Manchester City's opening-day triumph over Arsenal.
Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva grabbed the goals at the Emirates Stadium to give the reigning champions the perfect start to the new campaign.
There are fears De Bruyne has torn a lateral ligament in his right knee and City are worried their playmaker could miss up to three months.
At the premiere, City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan said of De Bruyne: 'He played an incredible season. He had so much impact on our game. He was maybe the main man for us last season.
'He is very important. We all hope that it is not too serious so he can get back on the training field as soon as possible.'
City and England right-back Kyle Walker said: 'Kevin is a great player and it's just unfortunate that it's happened to him in training but there's more than enough depth in the squad.
'We don't just rely on one player. It's a team game and whoever steps in will do well. Obviously it's a big loss but we've got more than enough cover.'