Pep Guardiola believes brand new conflict in opposition to Chelsea will show whether or not Manchester City are lower back heading in the right direction inside the identify race or now not.
City gained the Premier League by using a document margin remaining season however are concerned in a tighter conflict with Liverpool this time, at the same time as Spurs can’t be discounted.
City have already misplaced 4 video games – two times as many as remaining time period – however given the problems groups have had in preserving the identify in current years, Guardiola feels his aspect are thoroughly positioned.
Now he desires City to construct on that to grow to be the primary crew to win returned-to-again league crowns in a
Guardiola stated: “I actually have recognised within the closing 5 or six years the placement in which the champions could be the yr after – they all have been out and did not have a threat to win the Premier League.
However, we’re there. That is what I just like the maximum this season. So whilst humans say that we underestimated Newcastle, we underestimated groups in Europe or something, I say we’re inside the Carabao Cup very last and in all of the competitions we’re combating.
“In the last two seasons Leicester and Chelsea had no chance, but we are there at the top.
“That is what I like the most but we want to be there until the end. If we win against Chelsea it will help us, and I am sure we will be there fighting to be champions again.”
Chelsea are one of the four teams to have beaten City this season, winning their meeting at Stamford Bridge in early December.
It was City’s first league loss of the campaign, with further defeats to Crystal Palace, Leicester and Newcastle highlighting areas of weakness in Guardiola’s squad.
One of them is the lack of a back-up to Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho, who at 33 will also need to be replaced before too long.