STRAINING CHAMPS
Pep happy to be in title race after fearing schedule would hit players
PEP GUARDIOLA is grateful to still be in the title race – after fearing his Manchester City players would “fall down” under the mental and physical strain.
City, who take on Brighton tonight, will be crowned Premier League champions for an unprecedented fourth successive season if they win their remaining six games.
Defeats for Arsenal and
Liverpool 10 days ago left the race in City’s hands, but Guardiola said he feared his side, including
Erling Haaland (right), would be out of it due to the constant pressure they were under.
After their agonising
Champions League exit to
Real Madrid on penalties,
City showed their mettle with a 1-0 FA Cup semifinal win over Chelsea, with Guardiola marvelling at his side’s staying power after such a punishing fixture schedule.
“We’ve played a lot of games,” he said.
“Madrid was intense for many things. We were out of the Champions League, having done really well and, after two or three days, we were tired here.
“Not just in the legs, it was complaining more they were tired here (pointing to head). These guys have three weeks off, one month, so not much rest to recover.
“People sitting in chairs say I complain. But I defend my players, I know what I’m talking about – much, much better than the people outside.
“I know what I’m talking about, having seen my players for many years doing that. The human being does not have no limits, science says you need a certain time to recover many things, not just physically – mentally as well.
“And for many, many years, we don’t give them that, but despite that, still we are there.
“That’s why I say I’m really impressed, but all the time I’m thinking, ‘They will fall down’. This time I thought it would not be possible and still they make it possible. “That’s why, when I reflect on my period here, I will always admire these types of players for many years, for finding a way to still be in it – this is unbelievable.”
Despite City’s reign as European champions having ended, Guardiola said he would have happily taken their current position at the start of the season.
“Yeah, I would have signed for this,” added Guardiola. “At the end, we arrive in the last stages, which means you can arrive or in one week you can lose all titles.
“But the team again behaved unbelievably this season. Now, every mistake or step back makes it more difficult, but it is what it is.
“We’ve been here for the last few years, fortunately many times, so that’s how we know what we are playing for.”
“They (Arsenal and Liverpool) have given us a chance by losing their games, but we knew what we had to do two weeks ago – win the games to have the chance in our hands to take the title.
“Nothing has changed from what we should do before.”