City could extend the gap to Mikel Arteta’s side in Sunday’s crucial match against Liverpool, which will mark Guardiola’s 1,000th match since making his managerial debut in 2007.
Arsenal are having their best start to a season in three years.
Arsenal have conceded only four points in their first ten games, marking their best start to a season since 2022-2023. That year, City ended up overtaking the Gunners, but after ten games, the gap was only one point, compared to six currently. City’s crushing 4-1 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in April proved crucial to their victory over the Gunners. Guardiola stressed that his team will host their rivals again on April 18, in the middle of the title race.
Guardiola: Nobody wins the title in November.
Guardiola said at a press conference on Friday: “
All we can do is win our games and stay in the race. They (Arsenal) have to come and play here. The last two or three years, in terms of rebuilding the club and the team, they are at the top. What they are doing, and have been doing so for two or three seasons, is exceptional. But it’s early November, and early November, no one wins the title. »
Guardiola: My numbers are incredible
As he approaches his 1,000th match as manager, Guardiola reflected on his incredible career on the bench, marked by 12 league titles in Spain, Germany and England, as well as three Champions Leagues, for a total of 40 trophies. He won 715 of his 999 matches in charge of FC Barcelona B, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. His City team also set a Premier League record with 100 points during their league title in 2018.
“I never thought for a second about reaching 1,000 games,” Guardiola said. “We just want to do our job well, play football the right way and see what happens. Afterwards, it’s a lot of work, a lot of dedication, passion, love. And on that, no one surpasses me. When I started, I didn’t expect it. But it’s a joy. I didn’t enjoy every moment, but I loved the journey. I have been blessed. »
He also allowed himself a moment of arrogance by declaring: “ The numbers are staggering, I’m sorry to tell you. When you reach that milestone and see how much you’ve accomplished… if I did it again, I wouldn’t make it. »
