ARSENAL v MAN CITY TOUGH AT THE TOP FOUR!
Pep: Every game is a pitch battle in Prem
PEP GUARDIOLA claims finishing in the top four in England is like winning a trophy.
After eight months in the Premier League, the Spaniard fully understands English football’s tribal warfare – and the difficulty of coming out on top after 38 bear-pit battles.
Guardiola takes his Manchester City stars to the Emirates today for a crunch clash with Arsenal.
And he reckons clinching a Champions League position will feel like silverware – even if he ends up potless in his first campaign at the Etihad.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will make it 20 straight years finishing in the top four if his team sneak in this season.
Guardiola accepts what the under-fire Frenchman is talking about when he argues that finishing in a Champions League slot is like winning a trophy in some other leagues.
“I agree with him, yes definitely,” said the City boss.
Block
“I wouldn’t say it’s more important than me winning the FA Cup, but it’s like winning titles, definitely, because there are so many strong teams in England.”
Arsenal also block City’s path to FA Cup glory with the sides meeting later this month in the semi-finals at Wembley.
But Guardiola knows the key to his summer transfer plans will be determined by a top- four finish, ensuring the Blues are at Europe’s top table again.
He said: “If we miss out, I don’t know how it will affect us getting our targets. We will try to be there but all six teams desire that, so two teams will be out.
“This year it’s amazing, when you see them play, that Chelsea and Liverpool didn’t play in Europe. So what happened last season? They didn’t even make the Europa League.
“I think if you are able to attract players, it’s not just about salaries.
“It’s about where they want to play – and they want the Premier League for many reasons.
“I cannot answer at the moment. Maybe next summer, if we are not in the Champions League, ask me the same question.
“If we tried to buy a player and they did not come, then I will have the answer, but at the moment I don’t.” Future purchases may be something of a mystery to Guardiola, but he’s clear his side must improve next season – in both boxes.
He said: “We’ve had a lot of games where we have got to the bylines.
Create
“We have wingers for that in Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling in the right area, but we were not able to finish.
“We were not good enough in the box.
“The attacking midfield players – Yaya, Silva, Fernandinho, Kevin de Bruyne – the people to create are there.
“But when we were unable to score goals after that we were not solid at t he other end.
“We have to improve for next year if we are to compete with the good teams in Europe.”