After a treble-winning campaign last season, City continue to vie for silverware this season. They currently trail Liverpool by just one point in the Premier League standings and maintain a similar lead over Arsenal.
Additionally, they hold a commanding position in their Champions League last-16 tie against Copenhagen, with the second leg set to take place in Manchester.
As their focus momentarily shifts to the FA Cup, Guardiola’s men are poised to take on Luton on Tuesday night, aiming to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. Their impressive 17-match unbeaten streak highlights their formidable form as they enter the crucial stage of the season.
Pep Guardiola has declared his Manchester City side are relishing the “decisive part of the season” as they compete on three fronts.
For now, the spotlight is on the FA Cup, with City set to travel to face Luton on Tuesday night, seeking a berth in the quarter-finals. In addition to their cup commitments, City will square off against title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal in March, alongside a Manchester derby and a trip to Brighton, adding to the intensity of their upcoming fixtures.
Guardiola relishing the run-in
Speaking to Manchester City official website,
“Next month helps us to still have another month,” Guardiola said.
“It will define if we have another month to play for the titles. It doesn’t define anything.
“We can lose the titles yeah. But what happens if we win and win? Our mindset is not thinking about the worst scenarios. It’s thinking that at the same time you can control your mind to think it’s going to be bad, [you can also control that] it’s going to be well.
“Tomorrow [vs Luton] is a final like every game in the Premier League and Champions League. The decisive part of the season is here and ahead of us, not far away. We are going for it.”
Guardiola has recently highlighted the fatigue his players are experiencing, likening a trip to Brentford earlier this month to “going to the dentist without anaesthetic.”
Despite the relentless fixture list, the City boss is pleased to have so much at stake, recognizing the significance and excitement of competing on multiple fronts.
“It’s better to play for that than 10th in the table,” Guardiola said. “Playing every game knowing that if you lose it is bye-bye, so it is so nice.
“I adore to defend my players because I know how difficult it is. It is not what we have done last season, but the last five seasons. We accumulate many, many compliments and many things but we still have the humility and being humble and competitiveness to want to do it again.”
