Pep Guardiola has suggested he would prefer Arsenal to beat Nottingham Forest and leave Manchester City to chance to seal the Premier League title on the pitch.
City are on an 11-match winning run in the Premier League and, after the Gunners’ defeat to Brighton last weekend, have a four-point advantage at the top of the table with a game in hand.
The title will be officially heading to Manchester should Arsenal lose to Forest at the City Ground on Saturday, though Guardiola’s side will be confirmed as champions if they beat Chelsea a day later, regardless of what happens elsewhere.
Asked if he will be watching the Arsenal match, the City boss revealed that he wants his players to get the opportunity to complete the job themselves in front of their home fans at the Etihad.
“I don’t think so, we have a game the day after,” Guardiola said.
“In my mind, I would like to think we have to win to be champions, celebrating with our people in the stadium would be the best.”
A fifth title in six seasons is effectively guaranteed for City, and it could prove to be the first of three trophies lifted in the space of just a few weeks, with finals to come in the FA Cup and Champions League at the start of June.
City have appeared almost unbeatable in recent months, dispatching Real Madrid in Europe and chasing down Arsenal in the League, and Guardiola has urged his treble-chasing side to keep their focus as they look to achieve the kind of success that has surprised even him.
“I could not imagine, with the players and people here, to do what we have done in the Premier League,” he said of his mindset when arriving in England in 2016.
“I realised after five, six, seven games in the Premier League, how tough is that. Learn quick, players and teams. Every day was a little better, try to arrive a little better. Do better than yesterday, the players feel it and we can achieve it.
“You never think at the start of the season how it’s going to be. Now we know, three games away to win all the titles. Every game we win helps for the next one.
“Winning the Premier League as quick as possible helps the next games, the FA Cup and Champions League. I want to see the team still focused.”
