Mueez Ajao
– Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City players that there is “no chance” of them catching Premier League leaders Arsenal unless they improve on their recent performances.
– City have dropped eight points in their last six Premier League games to trail Arsenal by five points, having played a game more.
– Asked whether Arsenal’s meeting with fellow challengers Manchester United on Sunday represented a chance for his team to close the gap, Guardiola insisted it wouldn’t matter unless they improved their own form.
Also Read: Guardiola takes aim at Man City fans and players despite comeback win
– “It’s not about that,” he told reporters. “[Even if] they lose against United, if we play this way we are not going to win, we aren’t going to catch them. We have to change ourselves.
– “Listen, we are second in the table,” he added. “We are not 25 points behind Arsenal, still we are there. It is 57 points still to play.”
– But as to whether they can still win this season’s title, Guardiola responded: “In this way, no chance.
– “We have the FA Cup, we have the Champions League and next season but the club has to react.”
– City were staring at a third straight loss when trailing Tottenham 2-0 at half-time on Thursday. But despite a thrilling second-half comeback to triumph 4-2, Guardiola subsequently blasted his players and the club’s fans for complacency after winning four Premier League titles in five years.
– Ahead of hosting Wolves on Sunday, the former Barcelona player and coach repeated his message.
– “I won four leagues in Spain when I was a player. Four in a row and the fifth was not the same, and sixth was not the same. I was not starving enough. [Too much] caviar.
– “I understand the players but I am here [to motivate them] and the chairman knows that. I want to be here but if I lose the team I cannot be here.”
– In contrast to his own team, Guardiola was full of praise for Arsenal, managed by his former assistant Mikel Arteta.
– “They have everything. [They are good] with set-pieces, good defensive organisation. How they win duels, how they celebrate goals, how they talk, how they hug, how they look at each other.
– “This is football, this is tactics as well. And right now we don’t have it.”
