How Pep Guardiola is managing title race pressure in Manchester City dressing room
· Yahoo Sports
- Guardiola insists he never framed Sunday’s Arsenal clash in terms of what happens if City lose
- City boss says he convinces his players to visualise winning rather than fearing failure
- Catalan reiterates his message that Sunday is “just a football game, no more than that”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has detailed how he is keeping the pressure of the Premier League title race off his players.
The Blues can record a fourth straight win in all competitions when Arsenal visit the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, having cut the gap to the Gunners at the top of the Premier League to six points after winning away at Chelsea last week.
Visit palladian.co.za for more information.
City have momentum with them as they bid for another miraculous hijack of Arsenal’s title charge as they remain in the quest for a domestic treble after lifting the Carabao Cup trophy at Wembley in March and progressing to the FA Cup semi-final by beating Liverpool earlier this month.
Pep Guardiola press conference: Nico O’Reilly and Ruben Dias injury updates ahead of Arsenal clash
All eyes are on Arsenal as they aim to win a first Premier League title in 22 seasons and look to get over the line after years of agony and failing to get over the line in the business stages of the campaign – and the destination of this year’s trophy will likely be decided at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Guardiola discusses title race pressure ahead of Arsenal
Speaking in a press conference ahead of this weekend’s blockbuster clash of the titans, Guardiola was quizzed on how he keeps pressure off the players in a Premier League title race.
“I think the pressure is that they put the pressure to say, ‘Oh, if I win, I will be a champion. If I don’t win, it will be a disaster.’ That is the type of pressure that I never, never talk about to the players,” the 55-year-old said.
“I always have to feel the pressure to say, ‘Guys, did I convince you today to play in that way? Because we do things, it depends on the quality’. So if you believe it, the pressure doesn’t exist.
“And the players know, ‘Ah, I’m going to do this, and do that. And I’m able to do this because I’m good enough. We’re going to win the game’. We have to try to visualise doing this, ‘We can do it’. Always I approach games in that way.”
If we lose on Sunday, Arsenal will be champions – Pep
Guardiola went on to admit that Manchester City’s hopes of a seventh Premier League title under his management are riding on Sunday’s fixture.
Manchester City vs Arsenal (Premier League): Match Preview, Team News, Head to Head, How to Watch
“If we lose (on Sunday), they will be champions,” the Catalan added. “We can finish the press conferences. It’s a football game, no more than that.
“And as much as it’s just a football game, go there and behave like we have to do. I was a football player and my manager convinced me or told me, ‘Guys, do it that way, in that way’.
“I said, ‘Yeah. Oh, the space is here. Pressing that way. Second ball, or whatever. All the details’. And after that, just play. Play on. The final, and everybody anticipates all the questions, ‘What happens if you lose?’”