Pep Guardiola does not expect Manchester City to have it easy against West Ham.
The champions are strong favourites to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title after their 2-0 win away at Tottenham saw them take a two-point lead over Arsenal into the final day of the season.
Still, City have made life difficult for themselves before.
Sergio Aguero’s 93rd minute winner against QPR is one of the Premier League’s most iconic moments after City came from behind to win their first title in 2012.
However, even in the dominant Guardiola era, City haven’t always enjoyed plain sailing on the final day. They were 2-0 down against Aston Villa in 2022 before three goals in six minutes turned the game around to beat Liverpool to the top prize in English football.
City will need to win to ensure they hold off the challenge of Arsenal, albeit that is reliant on the Gunners beating Everton.
“I have the feeling it will be an Aston Villa game,” he said.
“We would like to be 3-0 up in 10 minutes but it is not going to happen.
“I have seen enough West Ham games in the last few days and they have a few things we have to control. But we have two days to prepare and we are ready."
They will be without first-choice goalkeeper Ederson for the West Ham game and the FA Cup final later this month after the Brazilian suffered a small fracture in his right eye socket against Spurs.
Kevin De Bruyne was forced off against Spurs too but Guardiola said City “will see” about the midfielder’s fitness after Friday’s training session.
