Pep Guardiola says Arsenal’s late victory over West Ham United has not increased the pressure on Manchester City as the Premier League title race heads towards a dramatic finish.
Arsenal moved five points clear at the top of the table after Sunday’s win, although City still have a game in hand. A victory against Crystal Palace on Wednesday would cut the gap back to two points with two matches remaining.
Speaking on Tuesday, Guardiola insisted his side remain focused only on matters within their control.
“What I’ve learned from my career as a manager is, what you cannot control, forget about it,” Guardiola said. “We have to improve what we have not done well this season and put ourselves in the best possible position to fight for the Premier League.”
Despite Palace sitting 15th in the table and without a win in their last four league games, Guardiola warned against underestimating the south London club.
He also pointed to Palace’s upcoming UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano on 27 May, suggesting a demanding schedule may have affected their league form.
“Maybe they are struggling a bit in the Premier League with a lot of changes. Manager Oliver Glasner is leaving, and maybe they were not consistent, but the quality is there,” Guardiola added.
Guardiola also revealed that injured pair Rodri and Abdukodir Khusanov are recovering well, although he did not confirm whether either player would return for the match against Palace.
The City manager dismissed concerns that Palace might rest players against Arsenal later this month ahead of their European final.
“They are so professional. Crystal Palace will play top against Arsenal,” he said.
With an FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday followed by a trip to Bournemouth three days later, Guardiola admitted City may need to rotate their squad during a hectic run-in.
“After three days we travel to London, then come back and play Bournemouth. So of course, I have to think about it,” he said.