Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has warned his players that anything can happen in the remaining months of Premier League title race. After recent inconsistences, both Arsenal and City secured victories at the weekend to keep their respective title bids on track.
The Gunners were able to overcome Leicester through a single Gabriel Martinelli goal at the start of the second half, while a few hours later Guardiola watched his side hit four past Bournemouth in just over 50 minutes. Fatigue was considered a possibility for City having played their Champions League last-16 first leg in Germany against RB Leipzig on Wednesday, but City were at their ruthless best on the south coast.
Midweek matches will undoubtedly start to play a factor soon as the season gets closer to its conclusion. Topping their Europa League group meant the Gunners avoided the competition's knockout play-off round but their last-16 clash has now been set. Mikel Arteta's men are set to travel to Portugal to face Sporting CP on March 9, with the second leg at Emirates Stadium to be played the following week.
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With both teams soon to be facing weeks with two games, Guardiola believes that could be where his side take advantage. "I know how good they are," he said. "I know we cannot drop points, but now they are starting to play Europa League as well. Many things are going to happen.
"They are going to drop points. We are going to drop points. The team who drops less points will be champions.”
Guardiola has remained cautious throughout the title race, with Arsenal leading the way for most of the season. After their win against the Gunners though, City moved to the summit but were dislodged just a few days later after a surprising draw against Nottingham Forest.
Despite this, citing experience and know-how, many believe City are still the favourites to retain their crown for their third consecutive year. However, Guardiola has warned his players that they should not get ahead of themselves, referencing a specific game to make a point that anything could happen.
“I would like to say that experience is an advantage, but I don’t know," he revealed. "I always put as an example to my players the Champions League final of 2005, when Liverpool played AC Milan. Liverpool made that comeback (winning the final on penalties after being 3-0 down).
“But Milan in that period had the most experienced line-up of players I had seen in a long time - Paolo Maldini, Gennaro Gattuso, Cafu. Football, when you think everything is under control, can punch you in the face and put you back into reality.
“But when I see lately in our games how we have fought and we tried to play, that makes me feel OK, we will fight to the end. I know how good Arsenal have been, how good Manchester United have been, and Newcastle are still there.
“We are calm. But, after winning what we have won this last few years, we still are in for three titles, and that makes me so proud.”
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