City won’t fall into complacency trap, says Pep

LONDON: Pep Guardiola says Manchester City proved against Newcastle United that their title charge will not be derailed by complacency as they bounced back to winning ways following defeat against Liverpool.

The runaway Premier League leaders responded to their first domestic loss of the season at Anfield on Jan 14 by overpowering the Magpies 3-1 with a Sergio Aguero hat-trick on Saturday.

Guardiola had said beforehand it was important that his players responded well and he feels the performance at the Etihad Stadium, which maintained a 12point lead at the top, showed their character.

“I said many times it was going to happen, we can lose, so (it is) important the reaction we have to do,” said the manager.

“Still we have 42 points to play (for). It is 14 games. It is a lot of games to play and difficult games like Saturday and like Liverpool. It is important to show the team is still there but I don’t have the feeling we give up.

“We want to go through to the final in the (League) Cup and the FA Cup, so (we have) a lot of games but I think the people have the desire to keep going, to keep going, to keep going.

“Even with 12 points it is important to see the personality, the team and try to do the things with no mistakes. Never did I not see it this season and that is why I am so proud to be their manager.”

City have earned plenty of plaudits as they have dominated the Premier League this season. But Guardiola does not want to reflect on that yet and wants his players to focus only the games ahead.

“I said to them until fixture 24 we were the best team but that doesn’t count. It counts after fixture 38,” Guardiola added.

“Still we have 14 and to win 10 or 11 games will be tough. Every team will play for something, to stay (up), for Europa League, Champions League and will be focused.

“I said, ‘don’t look back, look at what we have to achieve,’ because if you try to (look at) what happened behind, that is not a good solution from my experience.”

Guardiola has hinted at changes ahead of City’s League Cup semi-final second leg at Bristol City — but insists his focus is on victory.

City hold a slender advantage over the Championship side ahead of today’s clash at Ashton Gate having edged their first encounter 2-1 a fortnight ago.

Guardiola wants to field a strong side to secure a place in next month’s Wembley final but is conscious of the demands on his players as he juggles the challenges of four competitions. Agencies