Pep Guardiola: Manchester City Players Enjoy Pressure On Title Pursuit

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes his players are growing under pressure in the race for the title. (photo: x @amncity)

JAKARTA - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes his players are growing under pressure in the race for the title. City also enjoyed an extraordinary weekend in their bid for their fourth Premier League title in a row with a convincing victory over Luton, 5-1 plus defeats to their rivals, Liverpool 0-1 and Arsenal 0-2, which saw them top the standings.

Guardiola's men are now not only the main favorites to defend the title but also in a strong position to secure an unprecedented second treble.

"They like to play under pressure," City Guardiola manager said, speaking after a 5-1 win over Luton on Saturday, April 13. "They love it when you are on the verge of life or death."

"That doesn't mean we're going to do it but I'm pretty sure we'll be there until the end because I know them, I saw their faces in the meeting before the game and how they were prepared," he said.

"That means we will become Premier League champions? No, no. I didn't say that. But we will compete, that's for sure," added Guardiola.

City are now heading into two important matches against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Chelsea in the FA Cup in the coming week in good shape.

Real was the first opponent at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 17 April, for the second leg of the quarter-final match which took place 3-3 after a fierce match in the Spanish capital last week.

right-back Kyle Walker, who has missed the last five games due to a hamstring injury he suffered last month on international duty, could return after becoming a substitute for not being used against Luton.

"He feels much better but he's injured, so now we'll see in the next few days. But he's good, he's feeling good," he explained.

"Maybe he can help in a few minutes because it's a 'final' but I don't want to lose him for a long time if he gets injured again. He will train a little more now and we will decide," he added.

"I know how important Kyle is against Real Madrid players but he is not in Madrid and Manu (Ganji), Josko (Gvardiol), John (Stones), and Ruben (Dias) playing amazingly. We will see," he said of the important match.

Stones' teammate in the back line should have fit even though he was not included in the squad at all last Saturday as a precaution.

"He's had some problems, some disappointment, but he's fine. He's not injured but he's not comfortable and we don't want to take risks. That's all," said Guardiola.