Guardiola: The Match Against Arsenal Will Be Like a Final

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed immense satisfaction following his team's dominant 3-0 victory over Chelsea in the Premier League. The win brings City within six points of league leaders Arsenal, reigniting the title race. With the two teams set to clash in the next round, Guardiola views the upcoming fixture as a final. He also lauded his squad's strong performance in the recent match.

“We are in better form, and in training, everyone knows exactly what they need to do. We've faced three strong opponents, three Champions League teams. We didn't play a perfect 90 minutes, but we were organized enough, didn't concede many chances, and our attacking threat was always present. One of our secrets as a club and a system is that after every success, we remained humble and constantly asked ourselves: what do we need to do to stay at the top? To win once or twice is normal, but to stay at the top for nine years – with the exception of last season – that reflects the strength of the entire system,” Guardiola stated.

When asked why Manchester City is in such excellent form at the end of the season, Pep Guardiola quipped: “The sun! If it shone in November, we would have been champions by January... No, of course, I'm joking. The sun doesn't shine often in Manchester.”

Looking ahead to the crucial encounter with Arsenal in the 32nd round next Sunday, he shared his expectation that it would be like a true final for both teams.

“The match against Arsenal will be like a final for both teams, but there's a tactical detail we need to review, so we might make some adjustments.

There's no pressure on Arsenal; they've built a strong team over the last two years, and we must respect that. Beating them is a very difficult task. I have great respect for Arsenal and for what they've achieved in recent years. I know their manager and players well, I know their qualities and how they compete under all circumstances,” the Spaniard added.

Finally, he appealed to City supporters: “Respect Arsenal, because they are an exceptional team. Join us from the first minute and support us, because the players will give their all.”