Before the international break, Arsenal’s advantage at the summit was reduced to four points following a 2-2 result against Sunderland, while Manchester City secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Liverpool. ..Continue Reading
City have the chance to close the gap to just one point if they defeat Newcastle United on Saturday evening, ahead of Mikel Arteta’s team facing Tottenham in the season’s first north London derby on Sunday.
Guardiola considers the conclusion of the final international break of the year as the beginning of ‘the real season’ and believes that setbacks after January tend to have a greater impact on title contenders.
When questioned about Arsenal’s draw and its implications for the title race, Guardiola responded: ‘The truth is a team as strong as Arsenal is in the last seasons, not just this season, so impeccable in so many, many things, that feeling that I had in the past when we’ve fought incredibly against Liverpool, I had the feeling they would not drop many points.
‘And if they can take a lot of distance, it will be difficult to catch up with them, similar like Liverpool last season.
‘We’ve had moments and experience in our careers, we take advantage of nine, ten, twelve points, you play those games more easier, nothing will happen if you drop points and the others from behind have to put on incredible pressure and that’s why when the distance is big it’s more difficult.
‘But at the same time, we are in November, in November, in this league, nothing is defined.
‘What happens in February and March, be careful, but now it’s the start of the season really, right? There’s two parts of the season, when the transfer window is over in the summer and after the international break is over, now the international break is done, so now we will be until March, see each other every three days.
‘Now the real season starts. It’s important to be there and arrive at the end of the season with the feeling we can fight.’
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