Guardiola ready for ‘final’ battle with Arsenal after Haaland’s brilliance against Leicester
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes his team is in the right position to launch a title charge as they gear up for their crunch Premier League clash with leaders Arsenal.
The champions moved three points behind the Gunners after a 3-1 victory over relegation-threatened Leicester at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Erling Haaland extended his brilliant form this season, netting twice to reach 32 goals in the league – the same as Liverpool star Mohamed Salah’s tally in 2017/2018.
City’s next match in the Premier League is against Mikel Arteta’s side on April 26. Although Arsenal can move further ahead before then, Guardiola feels City are now well poised.
The City manager said: “Like I said lately, it is win, win and win. They have had an incredible run this season and I don’t think they are going to drop many points, so what we have to do is be there.
“It was important for us to win today to arrive for the ‘final’ we have against them in the next Premier League game.”
City all but secured their latest victory – their 10th in succession in all competitions – inside the opening 25 minutes.
John Stones put City ahead in the fifth minute.
With the ball flying around the box like pinball, Stones got his left foot on it to beat keeper Daniel Iversen.
Haaland made it 2-0 with a penalty in the 12th minute, awarded due to Wilfred Ndidi’s handball. He calmly slotted it into the bottom right corner.
He scored his second in the 25th minute after Kevin De Bruyne steamrolled past Ndidi to feed Haaland, who finished with a chip past Daniel Iversen.
Guardiola decided to rest Stones, Rodri, De Bruyne and Jack Grealish in the second half as City secured victory despite a late wobble.
“The game was tricky in the last 20 minutes, but the first 55, 60 minutes was good,” said Guardiola. “At the end (it was uncomfortable). That normally happens when you make a lot of substitutions.
“But sometimes it happens and it is important we started really well after the Champions League. We made subs to make players rest but we lost some control, though in general it was a deserved victory.”
City now turn their attention to the Champions League and FA Cup in the coming week, ahead of their next Premier League outing at home against the Gunners.
“It is a ‘final’ to play more finals,” Guardiola said. “If we lose this game, it will be almost over. It was important to arrive in the position that we spoke about a month ago, that hopefully we could arrive at the game against Arsenal and have the chance to be close to them.
“We wanted this opportunity, knowing how difficult it will be, but first we have the Champions League and the semi-final of the FA Cup.”
City shift their focus to the Champions League and FA Cup before a crunch clash with the Gunners on April 26