Manchester City, chasing the dream of a treble, have faced a busy schedule over the final few weeks of the season but manager Pep Guardiola is not worried his side are struggling on many fronts, saying the players understand the weight of each game and the reward for that will be fantastic.
Guardiola said on Friday about the boost his team will receive before the end of the season: It’s just a matter of six games or maybe seven if we compete for everything.
City is one point ahead of Arsenal at the top of the English Premier League, has a postponed match, and aspires to increase the difference when it visits Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Arsenal plays on the same day against guest Brighton.
Guardiola said: I think (Arsenal) will win their three (remaining) matches. Honestly, I would like him to lose points, but I think he will get nine points.
City emerged from a difficult confrontation in the Champions League semi-finals after a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid on Tuesday and hosts the defending champions in the return match at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
Guardiola’s team will also play the FA Cup final against local rivals Manchester United on June 3.
The Spanish coach said: We compete for all championships. You have to change (the tournament) and adapt. We have four matches left in the Premier League and it’s very important to be present and have our fate in our hands.
And when asked how his players would recover from Tuesday’s confrontation against Real, physically and mentally, Guardiola said that winning helps with that.
City have won their last ten Premier League matches.
He said: If you win the previous match, you will recover mentally faster. I have always believed that man has enormous resources to move forward and keep working.
“If you believe you’re ‘overworked’, you can’t.”
“It is natural to feel tired, but at the same time, if you have the desire and your mentality is right, then a person can gain tremendous energy.”
Real Madrid plays against Getafe in the Spanish League on Saturday, which gives the team an additional day of rest before the return match against City, but Guardiola refused to respond when asked about the unfair match schedule in the English Premier League.
He said, “It doesn’t matter.” We will not argue again about the schedule. That’s what it is. This is not a frustration but it is what it is.
