Chronicle EditorMANCHESTER. – Manager Pep Guardiola is pleased with how well his Manchester City side have coped with their demanding schedule this season as they have managed to stay close to the English Premier League summit despite their European soccer commitments.City have not only progressed to the knock-out stages of the Champions League, but are also well-placed to launch an assault of the league title, sitting third in the table on 30 points, one behind leaders Chelsea after 13 games.
Guardiola believes Manchester United are still in the Premier League title race, along with his Manchester City side, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs. City temporarily went top of the Premier League on Saturday after winning at Burnley but were knocked back off by Liverpool, who beat Sunderland, and then Chelsea, who won at home to Tottenham.
Jose Mourinho was sent off as Manchester United drew again to West Ham on Sunday, leaving them 11 points short of the league leaders and eight points adrift of the Champions League places.
And Guardiola says he is very satisfied that City are still with the leaders after the rigorous demands of the Champions League.
“To be honest (the title race) is Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham (Hotspur) and Manchester United. The league this year is unpredictable and it’s going to be decided in the last two or three months,” Guardiola told British media. City’s rivals, Chelsea and second-placed Liverpool have taken full advantage of the absence of European football in their sporting calendar to climb up the table.
“We’ll have played eight more games – terrible games – in the Champions League than Chelsea and Liverpool and we are there. That’s why the first part of the season is so satisfying,” Guardiola added.
“Playing seven, eight more games in the Champions League and to still be with Liverpool and Chelsea, when they don’t play in Europe, is good for us . . . It is easier to prepare well, to recover well, to take full advantage of recovery.” – Reuters.
Online Reporter