PEP: WE LOVE THE PRESSURE!
Guardiola warns Arsenal as City take control of tense title race
PEP GUARDIOLA insisted that Manchester City have the temperament to prevail in the final week of this absorbing title race after ramping up the pressure on Arsenal.
City’s 4-0 victory at Fulham yesterday means Mikel Arteta’s Gunners cannot falter when facing Manchester United at Old Trafford today.
Guardiola is two victories, against Tottenham and West Ham, from becoming the first manager to lift four consecutive league titles in England — and appears confident his players will finish the job.
‘The great players enjoy playing with great pressure. And I have the feeling they [City] like to play with pressure,’ Guardiola said. ‘Incredible personalities. Otherwise you don’t play to that level and if you lose the game you lose the league.
‘These players in the last few years have been able to do it and we are again in the latter stages.
Our dream is as we said a few weeks ago when they [Arsenal] lost against Aston Villa — to arrive in the last games with it in our hands. To play West Ham at home with the destiny belonging to us.
‘We played really well and now we recover, go back to Manchester, then come back to London to play the final [against Spurs] the big final we have to try and retain our title.’
Guardiola suggested that the knitwear he sported on the touchline, the City boss appearing warm in the 22-degree heat, was down to superstition. ‘[Hot?] A lot yes, but I used this outfit many times so we keep it as it is. Even if it is 45 degrees!’
WE HAVE seen this movie before. Arsenal will be sick to the back teeth of having to watch it on repeat.
Mikel Arteta’s side have the remote in hand but can’t change the channel. There’s nothing they can do now, it’s out of their control. They’re hoping for an unexpected twist in the script.
Manchester City, with two games to play, have moved top of the Premier League — two goals from Josko Gvardiol, plus Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez scoring here at a sizzling Craven Cottage was enough to secure their seventh consecutive top-flight victory.
You’d be brave to bet against them finishing top of the Premier League when the season climaxes next Sunday.
City could do it at Tottenham on Tuesday if the Gunners drop points at Old Trafford today.
Even if Arsenal win today and maintain their incredible form of 2024 that has seen them take 43 points from 48, two more City wins will crown them champions. Again.
Like a juggernaut with faulty break pads, this team — when it matters most — are unstoppable, obliterating anything and everything in their way.
What a relentless outfit they are. This will be their fourth consecutive title. Not even Sir Alex Ferguson when at Manchester United could boast such excellence.
We shouldn’t be surprised. City’s knack of getting over the line when the stakes are at their highest is something we almost take for granted.
They have not lost a league game since December 6 — a run of 21 matches. They’ve not lost in 90 minutes for 33 matches — their Champions League penalty shootout loss to Real Madrid the only blot, albeit a significant one, on their copybook.
But their ruthless ability to keep chalking up the wins deserves greater appreciation.
They’ve set a standard that is unrivalled, their ability to execute under immense pressure a sight to behold.
There’s part of you that almost feels sorry for Arsenal. They have kept to their end of the bargain, ensuring their title challenge hasn’t ended with a whimper like last season.
But there are levels to this game — and City are a level apart.
With every passing week Arsenal’s hopes of a first title in 20 years have died a little.
Arsenal’s mid-winter slump, that included a defeat here at Craven Cottage, and last month’s home loss to Aston Villa look set to be decisive setbacks.
But mostly because of City’s merciless brilliance. When City are involved, there is no margin for error.
Here at Fulham, Pep Guardiola’s team eased to their latest triumph, barely getting into third gear at times, never needing to even approach their breathtaking best.
What’s more, Arsenal’s once gaping advantage in goal difference — a factor that could still yet be crucial — is now down to two.
City superfan Noel Gallagher, positioned in the away end here in west London, certainly approved. Hugh Grant, who was sitting in front of the press box, not so much. Fulham’s Hollywood star fan departed before the final whistle.
City’s first goal arrived in the 13th minute, Gvardiol exchanging passes with Kevin De Bruyne before coolly slotting past Bernd Leno.
It was beach weather, the sun sizzling down close to the River Thames. Was this result down to Fulham players having one eye on their summer holidays?
Or was it simply a result of City’s brilliance? It was probably somewhere in between.
Not that it’s relevant at this point of the season; victories are all that matter. City know that better than any team on the planet.
There was a concern, however, in the 22nd minute when Nathan Ake limped off with what appeared to be an ankle injury, to be replaced by Kyle Walker.
The introduction of Adama Traore at half-time, with Fulham only 1-0 down, saw the home side set the cat among the pigeons for a short period. Who knows how the game would have panned out had Rodrigo Muniz finished from Traore’s pass in the 57th minute?
City were glad they didn’t need to find out. Foden doubled City’s lead with an unerring finish beyond Leno after excellent work from Bernardo Silva before Gvardiol, in the 71st minute, notched his fifth goal in seven matches to put his team on easy street.
Guardiola had the luxury of taking De Bruyne, Foden and Erling Haaland off in the closing stages, as his attentions turned to Tuesday’s trip to Spurs.
Issa Diop was sent off for a second yellow card in stoppage time in the incident that led to Julian Alvarez scoring City’s fourth from the spot.
City can smell the title now. In contrast, Arsenal need Tottenham, of all clubs, to do them a favour.
Good luck. You’ll need it.