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Pep opens up on tension of title push on final match day

Serving for Wimbledon: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on final Premier League game

Guardiola's side have 88 points, two clear of Arsenal, and will secure a record fourth successive league title if they beat West Ham at home on Sunday, the final day of the season

Our Bureau And Agencies London Published 16.05.24, 11:50 AM
Pep Guardiola.

Pep Guardiola. File picture

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has likened his side's final Premier League game of the season to "serving for Wimbledon" as they moved to the top of the table after beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 on Tuesday.

Guardiola's side have 88 points, two clear of Arsenal, and will secure a record fourth successive league title if they beat West Ham at home on Sunday, the final day of the season.

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"The tennis players say 'the serve to win Wimbledon', the last match, is the most difficult," Guardiola said.

"We know what we're playing for. The tension is there. We have a day off, two days to prepare and then we will do our best," he added.

City, who have kept up the pace in the title chase, are now unbeaten in 22 league games, while Arsenal, who need to beat Everton, will be hoping for the best on Sunday.

Guardiola also spoke about goalkeeper Ederson, who was treated on the pitch after being tripped by Cristian Romero and midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, and was forced to come off through injury.

"Ederson had a problem with his eye, he couldn't see well, so the doctor said he had to come off. De Bruyne had injured his ankle," he added.

Guardiola said there were no celebrations after a 2-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur.

City were well below their best and indebted to a late save by substitute keeper Stefan Ortega before Erling Haaland bagged his second goal of the game to finally seal a crucial victory.

Haaland broke the deadlock in the 51st minute and doubled their lead in the 91st from the penalty spot after Jeremy Doku was tripped by Pedro Porro.

"We were happy in the locker room but they know it's not done, they know it will be tough on Sunday," said Guardiola. "We have to win a game to do something no team has done."

While City sparkled in the sunshine at Craven Cottage on Sunday during a 4-0 rout, they were strangely subdued at Tottenham's new stadium where until Tuesday they had never scored a Premier League goal.

Guardiola said the enormity of what they are playing for -- becoming the first team in English history to win four titles in a row -- had weighed heavily.

"They were playing for the consequences of the result (in the first half)," Guardiola, told reporters. "When you do that you are going to lose the Premier League. You cannot perform to your level. They are human beings, I understand the pressure.

"Not even Arsenal played well against Manchester United, they knew if they did not win there they would not win the Premier League.

"It will be the same on Sunday for us against West Ham. We will feel the pressure. Look at Aston Villa a few seasons ago, 2-0 down 15 minutes to go, Sergio Aguero against QPR, went to 93 minutes. It is normal. That is why we talk and say everyone has to relax themselves and do what they have to do, that is all."

Former Tottenham defender Kyle Walker echoed Guardiola's words.

"We prepare, we recover and West Ham is another final and hopefully we can go and make history for this great club," he said. "It is not job done by a million miles.

"Hopefully we can get the win. If I didn't enjoy the pressure, I would be in the wrong job and the wrong team."

Written with Reuters inputs

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