April 02, (THEWILL) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted that the club’s experience of thriving under pressure in past title races will not be the decisive factor in determining the outcome of the current English Premier League campaign.
Despite aiming to become the first side to win four consecutive English top-flight titles and claim their sixth EPL crown in seven seasons, City currently trail leaders Liverpool by three points and are one point behind second-placed Arsenal.
The 0-0 draw at home against the Gunners on Sunday left City in third place, with the defending champions yet to beat one of the top five Premier League teams in six attempts this season. Guardiola stressed the importance of ending this record when fourth-placed Aston Villa visited the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, stating: “We have not many chances to drop points, but there are still nine games (to go). Our experience is over, it doesn’t count. What counts is Aston Villa.”
Despite City’s unbeaten run of 23 games, their last defeat came against Aston Villa in December, a result Guardiola labelled as the team’s worst performance of the season. Recognising the need for a reaction, the Spaniard acknowledged Villa’s transformation under Unai Emery, describing their performance as “excellent” and praising Emery’s consistency and the quality of his management.
With injury concerns in defence, John Stones could return to provide relief, although Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, and goalkeeper Ederson remain sidelined. Guardiola’s focus remains firmly on the upcoming clash against Villa, as the EPL title race intensifies in the final run-in of the campaign.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
