Man City ready if Chelsea wobble
MANCHESTER will be ready to pounce if Premier League leaders Chelsea falter following their impressive 2-1 comeback victory over title rivals Arsenal, City manager Pep Guardiola said.
Chelsea have streaked clear at the summit, thanks to a storming run of 11 consecutive victories.
City trail Antonio Conte’s side by seven points, having climbed to second place by coming from behind to beat Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, and Guardiola says the leaders are in their sights.
Asked whether the win, secured by second-half goals from Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling, would give City a psychological boost, Guardiola nodded: “A lot.
“Seven points is a huge distance and when a team can make 11 victories in a row, you just can say congratulations.
“But at least to be there as much as possible, and waiting if the opponent fails sometimes, and waiting until the last part of the season to be there, to fight for the title.”
Since Guardiola’s arrival in England, following stellar stints at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, there has been huge interest in whether his passing principles would prevail in the pell-mell Premier League.
The City manager triggered his team’s comeback by moving Kevin de Bruyne up front at half time and switching Sterling to the right flank, but he played down the significance of the decision.
“Because we won, now the trainer is a genius!” Guardiola said.
Guardiola said he had apologised to John Stones after benching the centre-back, a £47.5million (R828-million) recruit from Everton, for the second game running.
But he hailed Yaya Toure, an increasingly vital cog in City’s midfield.
Asked if Toure’s form might earn the 33-year-old an extension to his contract, which expires at the end of the season, Guardiola replied: “No answer to that question.” – AFP