LONDON – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has compared the tension of trying to wrap up the Premier League title to a tennis player serving to win Wimbledon.
His side will be crowned champions for a fifth time in six seasons if second-placed Arsenal lose at Nottingham Forest on Saturday – the result of which was not available at press time.
If the Gunners win, then City can seal the title by beating Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, or by winning either of their final two games at Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford.
Clinching the title this weekend would cap a memorable period in which treble-chasing City also thrashed Real Madrid on Wednesday to book a Champions League final showdown with Inter Milan.
But Guardiola knows the pressure of getting one last win in the title race can weigh heavily on a team, in the same way tennis players are sometimes struck with nerves if a Wimbledon title is within reach.
“Now is the most difficult thing, like tennis players say, to serve to win Wimbledon is the most difficult one,” he said.
“On Sunday, the game is in our hands to win the most important competition. We’re lucky to have the chance to finish at home with our people. We have to take it.”
Guardiola knows from personal experience how difficult it can be to finish off a title race.
Last season, City risked losing the title to Liverpool on the final day after falling two goals behind against Aston Villa before scoring three times in the final 14 minutes.
“I have a good memory. Against Aston Villa we were 20 minutes away from losing the Premier League at home,” he added.
“So the last one is the most difficult one because there are a lot of emotions and many things.
“You have to control it and be focused. We cannot be distracted right now. We will not forgive ourselves if we are distracted in something.”
City trailed Arsenal by eight points in April, but a blistering run of 11 successive wins has carried them to the brink of a third consecutive title.
Guardiola’s only injury concern is defender Nathan Ake, who missed the last three games with a hamstring injury and is a doubt for Sunday.
Interim Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, meanwhile, described City as currently the greatest team in the world and said the rest of the Premier League have to aspire to the high standards set by Guardiola’s star-studded side.
“I don’t know about the greatest ever but they are clearly a fantastic team and have been for a good while now,” he said.
“Huge credit for that consistency. They’re coming very close to becoming the greatest team, especially if they win the Champions League... In their form, you wouldn’t want to bet against them on anything.
“I think they are the best team in world football. Is it good for English football? Yeah, why not? You’ve got to push the standard. The rest of the league have to try to aspire to that.”
Lampard also said he had wanted to bring City striker Erling Haaland to Stamford Bridge during his first stint in charge of Chelsea between 2019 and 2021.
The Norwegian international, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund at the start of the season, has scored 36 league goals so far – as many as Chelsea.
“I think he’s special. I thought he’d adapt straight away and show his level,” said Lampard, whose side are languishing in mid-table.
“I don’t know whether he would have decided to come here anyway but I was a big fan. Credit to him because I love seeing players at that level, with personality and the hunger to be the best.”
Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile will miss Sunday’s match after he suffered a groin injury in training. AFP, REUTERS
