MX23RW : Monday, March 24 04:20:47| >> :120:36980:36980:
[monks data]
Attendance: 30,662
Brighton logo
Premier League | Gameweek 38
May 12, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Manchester City logo

1-4

Murray (27')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Aguero (28'), Laporte (38'), Mahrez (63'), Gundogan (72')

Pep Guardiola: "I am so happy – no nerves at all"

Guardiola:
© Reuters
City must beat Brighton to ensure they retain their title.

Pep Guardiola claims he is not nervous ahead of Manchester City's final-game title decider at Brighton.

City will win the Premier League with victory at the Amex Stadium on Sunday – but any slip-up could allow Liverpool, who trail by just a point, to pip them at the post by beating Wolves.

It makes for a potential nerve-jangling end to the season but Guardiola claims he is relishing the situation and is not as apprehensive as he was before the champions' crunch clash with Liverpool in January.

Pep Guardiola throws his scarf in anger during the home game against Liverpool
Pep Guardiola throws his scarf in anger during the home game against Liverpool (Martin Rickett/PA)

City prevailed on that occasion on what was a tense night at the Etihad Stadium, preventing the Merseysiders from opening up a 10-point lead at the summit.

Guardiola, the City manager, said: "I am so happy – no nerves at all. I was nervous before Liverpool, seven points behind, and we could have been 10 points behind.

"It was, 'Ah, it will be so difficult'. But not now, no way. I sleep like a little boy. It is a dream, a privilege, I love it."

City have won their last 13 games in what has been a remarkable title race in which they and Liverpool have matched each other almost blow for blow.

Guardiola's men have needed to show all their champion qualities in their last four games – tight victories over Tottenham, Manchester United, Burnley and Leicester.

Dropping points in any of them would have seen the initiative switch to Liverpool, who have won eight in succession and are just a point behind heading into the final round of fixtures.

13
Man City's winning Premier League run following their defeat at Newcastle in January

With such momentum behind them, Guardiola feels his team-talk should take care of itself.

He said: "I would say that I don't have to say anything to motivate (the players). I think my speech will be zero.

"They want to win the Premier League. What I saw in the training sessions – they want to win it. We are going to go out there at Brighton at 3 o'clock to win the game.

Vincent Kompany's goal against Leicester has put Man City within one win of retaining the Premier League title
Vincent Kompany's goal against Leicester has put Man City within one win of retaining the Premier League title (Nick Potts/PA)

"We have not spoken for two or three days about the Premier League (title) or back-to-back, or what happens if we lose, about celebrations if we win, zero.

"It is just about Brighton, how they defend, their strengths and weak points, what we have to do.

"And on Sunday, 'Guys, go out and play'. That is all."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Andy Hampson, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '3d8eb8b2-0603-4912-bae7-d9044caa0b92');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'No nerves for Man City boss Pep Guardiola ahead of Premier League finale'});

ID:358996: cacheID:358996:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8746:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Shane Duffy celebrates scoring for Brighton on January 2, 2018
Read Next:
Shane Duffy eyes "historic" scalp of Manchester City
>
Read more about Pep Guardiola Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal291610353242958
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest29166749351454
4Chelsea29147853371649
5Manchester CityMan City29146955401548
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton29121164842647
8Fulham2912984338545
9Aston Villa2912984145-445
10Bournemouth29128948361244
11Brentford29125125045541
12Crystal Palace2810993633339
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd29107123740-337
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton2971393236-434
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2997133349-1634
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2975174058-1826
18Ipswich TownIpswich2938182862-3417
19Leicester CityLeicester2945202565-4017
20Southampton2923242170-499


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!