- Pep Guardiola addresses the media
- Says Man City need all points on offer
- Shows regret regarding past mistakes
Pep Guardiola has emphasised the importance of winning every point on offer in the Premier League, beginning with Chelsea this weekend.
Manchester City currently trail Arsenal by nine points in the Premier League table, due to some disappointing results last month.
However, the Citizens have a game in hand on their title rivals. Additionally, the two teams meet next weekend, in a game which could help City to close the gap.
For now though, Pep Guardiola’s priority is on preparing his team to take down Chelsea this Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
Pep Guardiola calls on Man City to collect more points in the Premier League
Guardiola knows just how important this point in the season tends to be. Indeed, this would not be the first time Man City have made a comeback when Arsenal were in front.
The Catalan manager has made it clear that City need to take as many points as possible from their remaining fixtures. There is simply no other choice, due to too many underwhelming results across the campaign.
“Hopefully we can get a lot of points,” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference. “The situation we are in, in the Premier League, we need to get all of them otherwise it will not give us a chance to try until the end. We need to get a lot of points.
“We have not been consistent enough in the season. We have dropped points that we should have taken which is why we are now in the position where we cannot do it differently.”
Man City have suffered some poor results
In March, Manchester City were unable to punish Nottingham Forest at their own ground, despite the fact Vitor Pereira’s team are near the relegation zone.
More recently, the Sky Blues suffered the consequences of failing to take their chances, drawing 1-1 with West Ham.
| Manchester City’s past five Premier League results |
|---|
| West Ham 1-1 Manchester City – March 14 |
| Man City 2-2 Nottingham Forest – March 4 |
| Leeds United 0-1 Manchester City – February 28 |
| Man City 2-1 Newcastle United – February 21 |
| Man City 3-0 Fulham – February 11 |
This has left Man City in a difficult position, with the Gunners getting some Premier League victories in recent weeks.
Man City still have a chance to win the Premier League
Not everything should be looked at with a doom and gloom attitude. After all, Arsenal have hit a rough patch.
Man City did well to beat the North London club in the Carabao Cup final and following the international break, Arsenal lost again to Southampton.
If Bournemouth can get a result against them at the weekend, this provides City with a golden opportunity to take advantage.
However, even if Arsenal get the win, City are by no means in a terrible position, provided they defeat Chelsea.
Should the Citizens defeat Arsenal a week later, the nine-point gap becomes six. Beat Crystal Palace in their game in hand and all of a sudden only three points will separate the teams.
It is therefore absolutely essential, as Guardiola has said, that City win as many games as possible between now and the end of the season. There is simply no room for even the smallest of errors.
