Pep Guardiola believes his Manchester Metropolis gamers are thriving below the stress of the title run-in.
Metropolis loved an excellent weekend of their quest for a fourth successive Premier League crown as an emphatic victory over Luton, coupled with defeats for rivals Liverpool and Arsenal, put them prime of the desk.
Guardiola’s aspect at the moment are not solely clear favourites to retain their title however in a robust place to safe an unprecedented second treble in succession.
“They wish to play the stress,” mentioned Metropolis supervisor Guardiola, talking after Saturday’s 5-1 hammering of the Hatters. “They prefer it if you end up lifeless or alive.
“That doesn’t imply we’re going to do it however I’m fairly positive we might be there till the tip as a result of I do know them, I see their faces within the conferences earlier than video games and the way they put together.
“Meaning we’ll be Premier League champions? No, no. I’m not saying that. However we’ll compete, that’s for positive.”
Metropolis now head into two decisive knockout video games towards Actual Madrid within the Champions League and Chelsea within the FA Cup over the approaching week in good coronary heart.
Actual are the primary up on the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday for the second leg of a quarter-final tie that’s evenly poised at 3-3 after a pulsating sport within the Spanish capital final week.
Full-back Kyle Walker, who has missed the final 5 video games with a hamstring harm sustained on worldwide obligation final month, might return after being an unused substitute towards Luton.
Guardiola mentioned: “He feels significantly better however he was injured, so now we’ll see within the subsequent days. However he’s good, he feels good.
“Perhaps he will help with minutes as a result of it’s a ‘remaining’ however I don’t wish to lose him for a very long time if he will get injured. He’ll practice a bit extra now and we’ll resolve.
“I understand how vital Kyle is towards the gamers from Actual Madrid however he was not in Madrid and Manu (Akanji), Josko (Gvardiol), John (Stones) and Ruben (Dias) performed extremely nicely. We are going to see.”
Fellow defender Stones needs to be match regardless of being not noted of the squad altogether on Saturday as a precaution.
Guardiola mentioned: “He had some issues, some niggles, however he’s advantageous.
“He’s not injured however he felt uncomfortable and we didn’t wish to take dangers. That’s all.”
