Josep Guardiola, coach of the Manchester City soccer team, said that he did not expect to be present in the title struggle with Arsenal, especially since the beginning of this season was different for the two teams.
And the British news agency “BA Media” reported that Manchester City hosts Arsenal, top of the standings, in a decisive match on Wednesday that could determine the fate of the league title.
Manchester City made its way back to the league title race after a wobbly start in the first half of the season, while Arsenal’s results declined in recent weeks.
Arsenal heads to the Etihad Stadium as it tops the standings by five points against Manchester City, who has two deferred matches, and Guardiola’s victory will restore the initiative to his team.
Guardiola said in a press conference :”It’s good to be here. After what Arsenal did in the first half of the competition, it was hard to think we’d be here at that moment”.
“So it’s a very important match. We can get points that our opponents can’t, so our focus is on what we have to do.”
However, regardless of the outcome, Guardiola insists it will not be settled.
He said: “It is a very important match, but it is not decisive because there are still several difficult matches for the two teams. We have more difficult matches to play, but we cannot deny how important they are.”
Among the reasons for Arsenal’s presence in the competition so strongly this season is that he signed last summer with former Manchester City duo Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus.
Guardiola confirmed that Manchester City had no regrets about the decision to leave the duo, “Everyone agreed. The two players wanted to leave, the club wanted to sell them, and Arsenal wanted to buy them. They were happy and we too. We have no regrets.”
