The champions have a chance to take top spot from Arsenal when they face the Gunners in a crunch clash at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday
Pep Guardiola has told his Manchester City players not to give up their Premier League title without a fight.
The champions have a chance to take top spot from Arsenal when they face the Gunners in a crunch clash at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
Arsenal have led the table for most of the season but have slipped up in their last two games, with defeat at struggling Everton and a draw at home to Brentford.
Second-placed City’s own form has been patchy but they got back to winning ways after a stumble at Tottenham with a comfortable victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.
That cut the gap at the summit to three points and Guardiola is determined not to let this latest opportunity slide.
The City manager said: “The biggest motivation is that I don’t want to drop the Premier League just because we are not who we are.
“If they beat us because they are better then this is sport, I’ll be the first to congratulate them, as I’ve always done. But not because we are not there. You want it? OK, fight. Take it. It’s in our hands.
“We’ll defend this title until the last day. This is what I’d like. To fight to the maximum to try to retain the title. If we don’t, accept it, but we need to give our best. My players have to feel that every day.”
Guardiola expects Arsenal to come roaring back after feeling aggrieved over the manner of their 1-1 draw against Brentford.
Ivan Toney’s equaliser should have been disallowed for offside but a mistake was made in the VAR review.
Guardiola said: “They will be dangerous. When you drop points and you’re not used to dropping points, the next game you have something special.
“Watching the two games, I don’t have the feeling that they dropped the way they’re playing.
“I think Arsenal have reached a level that means that the opponent always adapts to who they are. When you arrive at that level it is because you are a good team and you have reached the level that you need to be champions. I have the feeling that Arsenal have got it this season.”
Pep Guardiola is determined not to give up the title without a fight (Martin Rickett/PA)
City will come up against their former midfielder turned left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko. The Ukraine international was a popular figure at the Etihad Stadium and has proved an inspired signing for Mikel Arteta’s side.
“I’m happy for him, it’s going well,” said Guardiola. “I think everyone here is in love with him, he was an important figure in our club.
“What I like the most about Oleks was the fact that in the first years we wanted to move him from here because we thought he wasn’t going to play much and he said he was going to fight for his position.
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“He trained really well, never had a bad face, playing sparingly and always had good behaviour. Normally when you don’t play you’ll see players not wanting to do it in the gym or the extra time but he was always there.
“For the circumstances in life, a lot of injuries in one position, he took the opportunity. That is a good mindset.”
“He’ll shut people up!” Rio Ferdinand predicts who’ll win the Champions League
Manchester City have failed to capture the Champions League with Pep Guardiola enduring several near misses but Rio Ferdinand believes this could finally be their year
Rio Ferdinand believes Pep Guardiola can “shut people up” after he tipped Manchester City to claim Champions League glory.
The tournament is more open that usual with a host of European heavyweights operating below their usual level. Nevertheless, all of the big hitters are in the knockout stages of the competition with City, holders Real Madrid and PSG among the favourites to triumph in Istanbul come June.
City have targeted Champions League glory ever since their wealthy owners arrived just over a decade ago. Guardiola, who won the tournament twice with Barcelona, have failed to win it in 12 years and has been criticised for his approach to knockout games.
But Ferdinand reckons the English champions, who are trying to chase down Arsenal domestically, can finally end their European hoodoo with Erling Haaland now in their ranks. They topped their group and will take on German outfit RB Leipzig.
The BT Sport pundit said on his prediction: “It’s just too difficult. I’m gonna go with City, just because of Haaland and Pep, he’s driven to win this. He’s been involved with the Premier League, but the Champions League is where it’s at for him. He’ll shut many people up if he does get it done.”
City’s best effort – and Guardiola’s best effort since leaving Barcelona – was the final appearance in 2021. They went into the clash as favourites but were undone by Chelsea in Porto. Last term they looked set to return to the final but were beaten by Real Madrid’s late show.
Erling Haaland will boost Man City’s Champions League hopes
Guardiola insists that claiming Europe’s top prize is not an “obsession” and maintains that success in the competition would not change his legacy in Manchester. “My life doesn’t depend [on the Champions League]. I’d like to do it, everyone tries to do it. It’s not an obsession,” he said last year.
“To improve the team and play better. This is the main thing for me. The only thing I’m here for is to make the team play better, and the players individually to play better. Everyone knows the titles are there but I’m not thinking what will happen in 11 months if we win or lose… this is the only thing. If we win it will be genius, if we don’t we will be failures. Nothing is going to change.”
City will head to Germany next Wednesday for the first-leg of their last 16 clash before welcoming them to the Etihad. Guardiola’s side twice met Leizpig last term, winning in Manchester before they lost out in their final group fixture at the Red Bull Arena.
Source: independent.co.uk; mirror.co.uk
