City pursuing both Premier League and FA Cup; “I cannot ask for more from the players,” says Guardiola
Manchester City kept the Premier League title race alive with a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday, moving to within two points of leaders Arsenal with two games remaining.
But Pep Guardiola admitted fatigue is becoming a major concern as the club prepare for a packed final week of the season, which includes Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea and league matches against Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
Guardiola rested several key attackers against Palace, leaving Erling Haaland on the bench for the entire match while Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki were also left out of the starting lineup.
“It depends on them [Arsenal],” Guardiola said. “If they win two games, nothing to do, nothing to talk. All we can be is in there just in case. The last two games are tough.
“And we all we can do now is go to sleep as quickly as possible and prepare for the FA Cup. That is what we have to do. But it’s not just FA Cup final. It’s Bournemouth three days after. So travel to London, they [players] will be at home with wife and kids, so fatigue, fatigue.”
Guardiola made six changes against Palace and suggested he will continue rotating his squad during the closing stretch of the campaign.
“I have full confidence in all the squad,” Guardiola said. “If we lose today, we know [it’s over], but then we bring the hope in the last game. The next contender, Bournemouth, wow, look what they are doing, and then Unai Emery [the final game against Aston Villa] is not easy.
“I cannot ask for more from the players. We are going to go Wembley to win, and we have to be ready physically and mentally against a team who are not in the best season, but the quality is there. Of course, they will do their best, and we have to do our best to try to win.”
