Share

Guardiola: This year is unpredictable

Cape Town - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes there are still five teams in the race for the Premier League, including both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

The Citizens began the season on fire with 10 consecutive wins in all competitions, but have subsequently been brought crashing back down to earth and have only managed four wins in their last 12 fixtures.

The run has seen them knocked out of the EFL Cup by rivals United, as well as slipping down to third in the Premier League table, while their qualification to the knockout round of the Champions League is fairly secure, but it will only be in second place in Group C.

After the highs of the early season and the lows of the last couple of months, Guardiola doesn't expect the roller coaster to slow down any time soon.

"To be honest [the title race] is Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United," he said. "The league this year is unpredictable and it's going to be decided in the last two or three months.

"We'll have played eight more games - terrible games - in the Champions League than Chelsea and Liverpool and we are there. That's why the first part of the season is so satisfying.

"Playing seven, eight more games in the Champions League, after going to Stoke and West Brom, and to still be with Liverpool and Chelsea, when they don't play in Europe, is good for us.

"This Chelsea side play one time a week. It is easier to prepare well, to recover well, to take full advantage of recovery. This week we played Wednesday and, after that, straight away on Saturday.

"Sometimes it is tough to be focused again, it is tough on us in these kind of games. You have to be mentally and physically prepared to compete."

Guardiola's side will be looking to put a dent in Chelsea's title hopes when the two sides clash at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Kick off is at 14:30.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
loading... Live
Arsenal 1
Chelsea 0
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
32% - 1843 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1810 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1100 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 470 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 193 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 261 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE