Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said Friday that the “real season starts now” as City seeks to hunt down Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
City reduced the gap on the Gunners to four points before the last international break, defeating champions Liverpool 3-0 after Arsenal surrendered points in a 2-2 draw with Sunderland.
Guardiola was asked ahead of his team’s encounter against Newcastle on Saturday about the significance of a potential shift in momentum from those results.
The city manager admitted it was critical not to allow “impeccable” Arsenal to build up a significant lead, but he stressed that the season was still young.
“The feeling that I had in the past when we fought incredibly against Liverpool, I had the feeling that we would not drop many points, and if they can take a lot of distance, it will be difficult to catch up,” he said.
“It was similar to Liverpool last season,” when they won the league with four games to spare, the Spaniard said.
Guardiola, who has won the Premier League title with City six times, stated that nothing will be determined in November.
“There are two parts of the season: when the transfer window is over in summer and after, when the international break is over,” he said.
“Now the international break is done, so we’ll be (together) until March, seeing each other every three days, four days. Now the real, real season starts.
“And the important thing is to be there, to be close there, and after that, arrive at the end of the season with the chance that we can fight for it.
“That is the target, and of course, winning tomorrow would be an important step for us.”
If City defeats Eddie Howe’s faltering Newcastle, they will be only one point behind Arsenal, who face London rivals Tottenham the next day.
Mateo Kovacic and Rodri will be missing from Guardiola’s lineup against St. James’ Park.
“Everybody is fit except Kova and Rodri.
“Rodri is making good steps—it’s been almost three weeks since his last setback.
“He knows he has to take time to recover well mentally and physically and to be consistent from now until the end,” he said.
