While many bookies may be cashing out on Manchester City securing a fourth successive Premier League title after Erling Haaland’s brace put the leaders on the brink against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday, Pep Guardiola is taking nothing for granted just yet.
A man as meticulous and as obsessive in his preparations as the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss was never going to take the threat of West Ham United lightly.
This is, after all, a Man City side who kick-started their modern day domination with the nerviest of final day triumphs over Queens Park Rangers in 2011. On final day, logic tends to go out the window.
If a QPR side battling against the tide of relegation can threaten to destroy City’s dreams, then Guardiola will not be take anything for granted versus a West Ham team boasting one of the division’s most exciting forwards in Mohammed Kudus, a set-piece specialist in James Ward-Prowse, and two physical powerhouses in Michail Antonio and Tomas Soucek who can give any defence headaches on their day.
Manchester City still need a win over West Ham United
“Now, I’m tired,” Guardiola told Hayters TV after Haaland’s late penalty calmed the nerves at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“Now, (it’s time to) relax. And, tomorrow, think about West Ham.”
Man City need only to win on the final day to snatch the title from under Arsenal’s nose, the old master 90 minutes away from undoing all the progress his protege Mikel Arteta has made in North London.
“Of course, it’s a pleasure to (have) a chance to prepare for the last game against a contender like Arsenal,” Guardiola adds.
“The most famous goal in our club, against QPR, we were 2-1 down in 91 minutes. Now, it’s Kudus, Antonio, Ward-Prowse, Soucek. Set-pieces, channels…
“(We need to) think about that, focus perfectly.”
West Ham may be on the proverbial beach – swapping their studs for sandals with a ninth place finish almost nailed-on – but the talent at a departing David Moyes’ disposal means last season’s Conference League champions can cause most teams more than a few difficulties when at their best.
It is largely thanks to West Ham, after all, that City have such a clear advantage heading into final day. Arsenal’s 2-0 home defeat to Moyes’ side in December – Soucek scoring in that shock win at the Emirates – is one of those sliding door’s moments The Gunners will look back on and wonder what might have been.
Arsenal on the brink of final day heartbreak
“I like that they were so happy in the locker room but they know it’s not done,” Guardiola explains, City’s title-winning veterans long in the tooth enough to know that there is still a final chapter to be written before the champagne corks go flying.
“I didn’t see an extra celebration. They know perfectly it will be tough (against West Ham). People have to come to Etihad at 3pm on Sunday knowing it will be difficult. They have to come with their families and bring the energy, win every inch and metre and deserve to win that game.
“All we have to do is win that game. To have the chance to live that possibility, we are so fortunate.”
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