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 at lunchtime – with goals from Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and a Josko Gvardiol brace – means Mikel Arteta’s side cannot slip up when facing Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow.
Guardiola is two victories, against Tottenham and West Ham, from becoming the first manager ever 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.
Pep Guardiola says his Manchester City side are ready to seal the Premier League title
Manchester City enjoyed a comprehensive 4-0 win over Fulham to move to the top of the table
Guardiola’s men have the chance to be the first side to win four league titles in a row
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‘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!’
Guardiola will hope that Arsenal slip up against Man United after his team beat Fulham
City’s four-goal win takes them within two goals of Arsenal, which adds another layer to the two-horse race. Gvardiol had been in discussions about taking Alvarez’s late penalty for an unexpected late hat-trick but eventually stepped aside.
‘Of course I would have liked to, but we have a taker and he takes them,’ Gvardiol said. ‘At the end Julian came on and he took it to score the goal.
‘We just need to be focused on ourselves and keep going that way. Of course we talk about it [goal difference] and as you can see we are trying to get there. But it is not easy, Arsenal have quality as well.’
