Pep Guardiola's warning to his Man City stars ahead of potential coronation coronation against United
Pep Guardiola insisted the prospect of winning the Premier League title against Manchester United would not distract Manchester City from their Champions League quarter-final at Liverpool.
City can clinch the championship with victory in the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday having maintained their 16-point lead over José Mourinho’s team with a 3-0 win at Everton. The win was Guardiola’s 50th in 69 Premier League matches and only Mourinho reached the half century faster (in 63 games); but despite City being left with their dream scenario the manager was adamant Wednesday’s visit to Anfield is the priority. His strong team selection at Goodison Park was, Guardiola admitted, designed with Liverpool in mind.
“We were a long time without being together and I didn’t want to play with seven, eight or nine players who are going to play on Wednesday without four weeks playing together,” the City manager said.
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“We needed to play together to find our pace and our rhythm for two massive games against Liverpool. I understand people are going to talk about United but now all the decisions are about Liverpool. We have to focus on the Champions League, we have United in the middle but for the lineup we have to think about the Champions League.”
He added: “We are closer than ever. We have one game to win and, if we are not able to win [against United], we have six more chances. We are so, so close and I am so happy with the performance.”
City were outstanding in the first half at Goodison and applauded after the final whistle by Everton fans. “Maybe that’s because we are going to play against Liverpool,” Guardiola said, jokingly. “I didn’t know it but it is a great satisfaction that they give credit to what the players have done. First it is for our fans but if the people who love football enjoy how we play, then that is a great satisfaction. Last season I applauded them after the 4-0. This season they applauded us, so thank you very much.”
