Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that it will not be easy for his side to defeat Arsenal twice in quick succession.
Speaking after City’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Chelsea on Sunday, a result that moved them within six points of the league leaders, Guardiola looked ahead to next weekend’s crucial clash with the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium.
City had already beaten Mikel Arteta’s side 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final, but Guardiola warned that repeating such a feat would be far from simple.
“Beating Arsenal once is very difficult, so imagine doing it twice in a few weeks,” he told reporters.
He stressed the need for focus and preparation ahead of the encounter, while also praising Arsenal’s quality.
“We have to rest, prepare and understand exactly what we need to do. I want to tell our fans to respect Arsenal a lot—they are an extraordinary team. It’s not about exaggeration; they are genuinely very strong,” he said.
However, he urged Manchester City supporters to stay fully behind the team when the match comes.
“At the same time, come and support us from the first minute. The players will give everything,” Guardiola added.
