The pressure on Pep Guardiola for the title is back in the news, but the man himself isn’t going for it. The focus was then likely to be on Man City following their crucial victory over West Ham United. But Guardiola is not to be rattled.
Arsenal’s win has secured them five points clear at the top with just two games remaining for Mikel Arteta’s team. City have three games in hand but that would be difficult if they miss out on points.
However, Guardiola’s thinking hasn’t changed. He said that only distraction comes from focusing on such things as the outcomes which are beyond control. Instead, he wants his team to make improvements based on what they can control. This is consistent with his philosophy as a manager over the years.s
City’s next matchup will be against Crystal Palace. Palace are in the bottom half of the table but Guardiola wasn’t daunted. He highlighted their quality and their next European final as examples of their ability to give top performances.
Another key development for City fans is key players returning. Midfielder Rodri and defender Abdukodir Khusanov are both developing and who is available to them for the next game is unclear. In larger picture, Guardiola’s talk is evidence of experience. Title races can be won by little things, and feelings can negatively affect performance. He’s doing his best to keep his team in check in a key time of the year.
The pressure can come from the outside, but the answer is loud and clear in Manchester City. Don’t allow the table be the focus of the performance.
