It’s 10/10 for my class of 2021 but talk of long unbeaten runs is just stupid
Guardiola warns City stars title race isn’t over
PEP GUARDIOLA admits he’s surprised at how large Man City’s lead is at the top of the Premier League.
But the City boss has warned his stars to presume nothing in the title race and reckons thinking about a long, unbeaten run would be “stupid”.
City have charged into an eight point lead over Chelsea at the top following a stunning run of 10 straight league wins.
The reigning champions could stretch the advantage to 11 with a win at Arsenal this lunchtime before main rivals Liverpool and Chelsea battle it out at Stamford Bridge 24 hours later.
But despite having a commanding lead heading into 2022, Guardiola is refusing to look too far ahead and has ordered his players to remain calm.
He said: “Thinking about long (unbeaten) runs is a stupid thing to think about. It’s just about what’s next and to be ready, because the most important thing is the desire and the commitment.
“The team has to say, ‘Yeah, I want to do it, I want to go there, and try to go again and try to win the game’.
“Everyone will be involved. Everyone makes their incredible contribution and that is why we are where we are.
“It’s an unexpected situation. Not even a month ago we were four, five or six points behind Chelsea and Liverpool but we still have 54 more points to play for.
“We have to be patient. Sooner or later we are going to lose a game, because it’s going to happen, but be calm, relax and try again.”
Mikel Arteta will leave his assistant Albert Stuivenberg to face City while he recovers from Covid.
The Arsenal boss, whose positive test sparked football’s first lockdown in March 2020, is self-isolating after being hit again.
But although he was able to conduct his pre-match press conference, he intends to allow Stuivenberg to assume control.
Arteta said: “He’s someone who is very close to me and he’s more than capable. He’s done it before, so in that sense I’m very relaxed about it.”
Arsenal have picked up just one point in their last 11 Premier League games against City.
Arteta added: “We will be in touch but I also want to give them the possibility, the responsibility and the freedom to make decisions on the pitch.
“To express themselves because it’s completely different being on that touchline, close to the players and action to being at home.
“So I’ll be here to support and help in certain moments, but they have to get the momentum of the game and communicate with the players themselves.”