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Football London
Football London
Sport
Josh Holland

Man City boss Pep Guardiola reveals Arsenal envy and fires demand to players

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has insisted he would "love" to be in Arsenal's position at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are eight points clear of City heading into the final ten games of the season.

Guardiola's side do have a game-in-hand after their participation in the FA Cup last time out. However, their chances of winning a fifth league title in six years are getting slimmer by the week due to Arsenal's tremendous form.

After 28 games, Mikel Arteta's side have won 22 and are on course to win their first Premier League title in 19 years. However, many have backed Man City to replace the north Londoners at the top due to their recent success in close title races.

READ MORE: Jamie Carragher makes Liverpool prediction in Man City and Arsenal title race

The Citizens were made to go thee distance by Liverpool last season and in 2019 but came out on top with 98 points and 93 points respectively. Guardiola's side know how to win titles when involved in a nail-biting battle but the former Barcelona midfielder does not believe that is an advantage.

He also wants his players to stay focused in the present and not try and rely on past experience too much.

"I would love to be in the position of Arsenal, rather than the experience of winning four Premier Leagues in five years," Guardiola said. "The advantage is that they are eight points clear in front of us, this is the real advantage.

“The past is the past, experience doesn’t count. Absolutely not. Every day you start anew.

“When I hear, so many times, managers or players say, ‘I don’t have to show anything, I don’t have to demonstrate anything (because of what) I’ve done in the past’, it’s the most awful sentence.

“You have to prove it every single day again and again and again. The past is the past. For memories, when you are a grandfather, it’s OK, it’s nice.

“But the reality is tomorrow, when people come to the Etihad Stadium at 12.30pm, they are not thinking about the past.

“If people think, ‘I don’t have to show anything’ – no, you have to, again and again, otherwise you have to retire."

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