Pep Guardiola says improved mood and mentality can help Cityzens secure their seventh title in nine seasons
Very few would have guessed that Manchester City have the sun backing them for the Premier League title. But Pep Guardiola has credited Sol for the improved mood and mentality as his side experience an upturn in form at the business end of the league.
City beat Chelsea 3-0 on Sunday to close the gap on Arsenal in the title race. Guardiola’s men struggled in the first half at Stamford Bridge but improved significantly after the break following his instructions to increase the tempo.
Goals from Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and Jeremy Doku secured the win, moving City to within six points of the leaders with a game in hand.
Asked the reason behind his team’s tendency to put in strong performances late in the season, Guardiola said: “The sun. I’m not joking. The sun. In Manchester there is never the sun. If the sun arrived in November, we would be champions in January. Honestly, the mood is better. The mentality of the group.
“The hierarchy gave me the mentality of amazing players and competitive players, that is the key to success. Arsenal is a final for us – for them as well.”
City are set to host Arsenal in a key fixture on Sunday, with the title race tightening following Arsenal’s recent defeat to Bournemouth.
Guardiola praised his side’s second-half response, pointing to mentality rather than tactics as the decisive factor.
“At this stage of the season the players have to make a step up,” Guardiola said. “The second half was extraordinary because we had the mindset. In that stage it isn’t the tactics.”
Despite beating Arsenal in last month’s Carabao Cup final, Guardiola warned that catching them will remain difficult.
“Is there one person in this room who bet for us in the Carabao Cup final?” Guardiola said. “£1? Not even one bet for us. We were underdogs and that was perfect. Now it’s different. We have to respect Arsenal.”
