Pep Guardiola is not convinced Manchester City’s experience in previous title races will be beneficial in their head to head with Arsenal.
City go into the home game with Wolves tomorrow evening a point behind Mikel Arteta’s men with a game in hand – and the deficit may be four points by kick-off with the Gunners playing Bournemouth at 1230.
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It means City have little room for error as they go in search of an English record fourth successive top-flight title win.
Asked if the know-how gained from their three previous wins would prove a factor, Guardiola replied: “I would love [that], but I don’t know, I don’t have an answer to this question. I would love to say yes but we have to prove it tomorrow against Wovles and in the next games.
“We know that we have to win all 12 points, otherwise it will be difficult because Arsenal are so strong. It depends on us. One at a time and we try to win the games. It’s no more complicated. I would like to say what we have done in the past is going to happen again this season but nobody knows it.”
PEP 💬 [Phil Foden and Ruben Dias] are okay. [Ederson’s injury] looked worse than it is. He trained yesterday and feels good. He could be back against Wolves. pic.twitter.com/n1VkvJpJFU
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 3, 2024
City will be boosted by the returns of Ruben Dias and Phil Foden, who was this morning named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.
Guardiola said of the England international: “The writers decide this award. Congratulation for the writers and for him. He played really good this season, many players played really good this season and the writers decide for this award so what can I say? Congratulations.
“[He’s done] really good. I have said many times. The impact in the final third is very good, his work ethic…Every year due to the amount of games he is playing and the minutes he is playing he is more mature.
“He understands the game better but he has to keep on improving, he is still young.”
City’s Champions League defeat at the hands of Real Madrid means they have had a rare midweek without a fixture and Guardiola has relished the chance to work with the players on the training pitch.
“Days off, three really good training sessions,” he said. “They always train really good. More fresh in the mind, tactics, little details. That is the stage, not much to talk about tactics. Fresh legs, minds, ready for the game for tomorrow.”
