‘What a joke’, ‘we should have got a striker’ – Man City Fans reacts to Pep Guardiola’s options up front after Cristiano Ronaldo decision

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he is “incredibly happy” with his squad despite not signing a high-profile striker this summer.

The Premier League champions had been linked with a move for England and Tottenham striker Harry Kane.

And they were also briefly linked with a deal for Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who is set to re-join rivals Manchester United.

City’s only major arrival was the £100m club-record signing of Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, while record goalscorer Sergio Aguero left after 10 years at the club.

City only have four days before Tuesday’s transfer deadline to bring in another forward But Guardiola says he is “more than satisfied” with his squad amd that Liam Delap, Raheem Sterling, Ferran Torres, Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, and Jack Grealish can all play at striker for Man City this season.

Guardiola’s comments would also appear to limit the chances of any departures from his squad. Guardiola confirmed earlier this month some players, including Bernardo Silva, had indicated a desire to leave but they could only do so if the conditions were right for the club.

He said: “I am incredibly happy with the squad I have, more than satisfied. We are the same squad except one player leaves, Sergio, and we have Jack.

“Anything can happen but, my opinion right now, today, is everything will finish like it is now and that’s good enough.”

“Right now I don’t think so,” said Guardiola when asked at a press conference if any players might move on.

There had been speculation 18-year-old striker Liam Delap could move out on loan but City have kept him at the club, suggesting he could get a first-team opportunity this season.

Already this season City have played Ferran Torres, signed as a winger last year, as a centre forward.

“Of course he’ll be a part,” said Guardiola of Delap. “We cannot forget how good we have done in the recent past with the same squad that we have.

“Always we try, like all the clubs, to improve and get better but we have four or five players from the academy we can count on and Liam is one of them.

“Unfortunately he was not with us in pre-season because he was injured but we have many players who can play in that position – Raheem (Sterling), Ferran, Gabriel (Jesus), Riyad (Mahrez), even Jack Grealish. We can find alternatives.”

These Guardiola’s comments has prompt Plenty of Sky Blues to react on social media.

What a joke!

— Arnav (@King_Kevin100) August 27, 2021

False 9 Season 2

— Goatlien (@Goat_lien) August 27, 2021

Or, hear me out, we should have got a striker

— Ryan (@bernardooooV3) August 27, 2021

Only name there I want to see starting up front is Delap

— 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (@okayokay12321) August 27, 2021

So why don't we play Delap and see what happens. Maybe something'll happen

— oli 🇧🇼 (@mcfcoli_) August 27, 2021

Sterling can’t finish. Torres ghosts. If Mahrez is striker then we don’t have a winger. Grealish isn’t a striker. So just Delap

— Josh 🦧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🍻 (@mcfcjosh9320) August 27, 2021

Liam Delap should start tomorrow. That’s the only option.

— ً (@nyhroxmci) August 27, 2021