6 days ago
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about the Premier League title race and Arsenal's lead
Pep Guardiola said he is less worried about Arsenal's lead in the Premier League title race than he was earlier in the season as he praised Manchester City despite their defeat to Aston Villa.
City lost their first game in 1 0matches in all competitions on the same afternoon that Arsenal beat Crystal Palace to mean the Blues are now six points behind the league leaders heading into November. Arsenal have won all four of their matches since rescuing a point against City at the Emirates to emerge as frontrunners as Liverpool have fallen away.
Despite defeat to Villa, City remain ahead of the champions after Arne Slot's side suffered their fourth consecutive defeat on Saturday night. They had been eight points ahead of City after five games but now find themselves a point adrift after nine matches.
That is in part due to the collapse of the champions, but Guardiola is much happier with how City look now. Even in losing against Aston Villa, the manager felt that it was only fine margins that denied his team.
"I was worried before the international break when we were 14th in the table and they (Liverpool) were six or seven points in front," said Guardiola when asked about the title race. "Our job is not to watch the title. If they (Arsenal) win all their games and win the Premier League, congratulate them.
"But I feel that the team is alive, it's good. I don’t know how many teams can play here with the way we played with courage, possession, chances, concede less, expected goals and all these things.
"You have to be stable and better in details but I don’t live in October or November thinking what is going to happen if I win or don’t win the Premier League. We have to prepare well for Swansea to continue in the Carabao Cup and prepare the last two games plus the Champions League before coming back after the international break and see what's going on."
City's more immediate task is to leapfrog Bournemouth in the table. Andoni Iraola's side won 2-0 on Sunday to sit in second behind Arsenal and will head to the Etihad next Sunday with a two-point lead over the Blues.
"Arsenal have been solid for many years. The concern is how we improve better to be close," said Guardiola. "From my experience, it is so long. There are many teams there - Bournemouth are doing really well - and we try to do our game."
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