Football: Guardiola has eye on Arsenal as City prepare for Chelsea clash
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Although he is looking far ahead to the title race, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has also urged his players to take it one game at a time.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is keeping a close watch on Arsenal as he prepares for his side’s English Premier League trip to Chelsea on Thursday, three days before they also take on the Blues at home in the FA Cup third round.
Both Chelsea and City are hoping to get back on track following draws – Graham Potter’s side were held 1-1 at Nottingham Forest, while Guardiola’s men drew with Everton
Failure to beat the Toffees meant that City entered the New Year seven points behind leaders Arsenal, and that gap has increased to eight
“The way you have to reduce the gap is to play good and win games,” Guardiola said on Wednesday.
“Arsenal have an average that they’re going to do 100 points if they carry on like this, and we won’t catch them. We will see what happens.”
Although he is looking far ahead in the title race, the Spaniard also urged his players to take it one game at a time.
“I said many times when we’ve gone on big winning runs we never think about it, just the next game – Chelsea then the next one. Knowing every game is difficult, we will focus on tomorrow in London and what we need to do.
“It is a tough game, tough side. Well-managed. Stamford Bridge. Doesn’t matter the position you are in when you travel there, always difficult.
“We’re looking forward to the next few weeks in different competitions.”
City will head into the match with no clean sheets from their last four Premier League matches, and just one in their last seven.
They will, however, be encouraged by having lost just one of their last 25 away league games.
The two sides met recently – City defeated Chelsea 2-0 in the League Cup
City will also have a much fitter squad on Thursday, with Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias the only major injury absentees.
In contrast, Chelsea are without long-term injured players N’Golo Kante, Armando Broja and Reece James, while Wesley Fofana, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ben Chilwell, Edouard Mendy are doubts.
The Blues’ draw at Forest
Potter’s side are languishing in 10th in the standings, 10 points off fourth-placed Manchester United, and 11 behind City.
The Chelsea boss is under pressure with his team winning just once in their last seven Premier League matches, although Arsenal were the only side who managed to beat them at Stamford Bridge in the top flight this season.
Potter is wary of City hotshot Erling Haaland, who has 21 goals in 15 league games, but believes his team can pose a threat to City.
“He’s had a fantastic season and his goals are amazing but we have to play well ourselves. Then you have to understand the quality they have and try to stop it,” he said of the Norwegian striker.
“It sounds simple but the reality isn’t so straightforward. They are a top team but we can cause them a problem, we can be ourselves and try to play well and put them under pressure. We need to use Stamford Bridge and then we will see what happens.” AFP
