Pep Guardiola: ‘I am indifferent’ to Premier League standings as Man City pursues Arsenal
Pep Guardiola stated he “could not care less” regarding the intensifying Premier League title race.
With a game in hand and a forthcoming encounter against rivals Arsenal in April, Manchester City understands that winning all their remaining matches will secure them the championship again, especially after the Gunners allowed a lead to slip and drew with Wolves midweek.
The margin has narrowed to five points, but when asked if he believes City now has a better opportunity than a few months prior, Guardiola emphasized that his sole concentration is on Saturday’s home match against Newcastle.
“I don’t know what will transpire in these next 12 games,” he remarked. “I haven’t discussed that for even a second with my players. Yesterday, the day before, it was just Newcastle, Newcastle, and Newcastle.”
“I haven’t mentioned the table, nor the standings. I could not care less. If you ask me this question with two games left, three games left, I will provide you with an answer.”
“There are 12 games remaining; it’s a long time. Many things will happen, and that is the only certainty I have.”
Guardiola also dismissed the notion that his team’s experience in winning titles will be significant, noting: “Seventy percent of the players are new, so they lack experience in these types of situations.”
City had a rare midweek break, with Guardiola acknowledging they were fatigued ahead of last weekend’s FA Cup match against Salford.
“The key point is that the players are re-energized,” he stated. “We’ve had many months with few days off. I don’t have to run a single meter, so for me, it’s not an issue; after one or two days, I sleep well, and that’s sufficient. The players have trained well over the last two days.”
Erling Haaland is expected to return to the squad, while Savinho is also fit after being sidelined since early January due to a thigh injury, but fellow winger Jérémy Doku remains unavailable.
One of City’s pivotal players in recent weeks has been Antoine Semenyo, who has integrated smoothly into the team following his transfer from Bournemouth.
Guardiola has expressed satisfaction with the forward’s performance, stating: “It’s not solely about scoring numerous goals for those who play up front.”
“His versatility allows him to play in all three positions; we were aware of this, and at Bournemouth, they excel in rhythm and defensively, so it is ingrained in his DNA. The impact has been very positive.”
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“He’s never participated in the Champions League before, and it will be a good test for him to see how he responds, but I am quite confident that, with his mentality, he will manage it well.”
Guardiola was also questioned about the troubling incidents during the Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid, where Vinícius Júnior was reportedly subjected to racial abuse.
“There is much work to be done,” Guardiola remarked. “Racism exists everywhere. We need to invest significantly in teachers. Teachers and doctors should be the most important individuals in society, not the managers.”
