Pep Guardiola explains why he's 'so optimistic' Man City will beat Arsenal to title

Pep Guardiola has boldly claimed that he would only aim for a goalless draw if his team were performing poorly, and that his Manchester City team kill off games because they are destined to win.

As Arsenal prepares to challenge their title ambitions at the stadium that has seen four consecutive Premier League trophy wins, Guardiola is gearing up for another tough battle.

Last season, Mikel Arteta’s squad believed they had gained an advantage when they barely left their own half at the Etihad in late March and returned to London with a point, still ahead of City in the league table. However, nine straight victories propelled Guardiola’s team to the top.

Despite Guardiola’s insistence on being a pragmatist, it seems his interpretation of the term involves aggressive tactics rather than defensive ones. When asked about the ideal pragmatic performance, the City boss said: “For 95 minutes, the opponent has to defend in their box. This is what I want. Do you know why? Because the ball is far, far, far away from our keeper.

“When the ball is closer to my goal, now I am trembling. So I prefer for the ball to be up there (far away from goal). For me, that is being pragmatic. Pragmatic? We are the best team in the world being pragmatic. Look at the results.

“People say we have a lot of passes, good build-up… We won a lot. So what does pragmatic mean? It’s related to results, right? Not how beautiful the football is. We believe that in the way we play means we are unbelievably pragmatic. The best, I would say. I’m sorry, that’s the truth.

“If you play poorly then 0-0 is a good result. When the opponent is better then it’s good,” said Guardiola, reflecting on recent goalless draws in the Champions League for both City and Arsenal.

Guardiola further commented: “Mikel knows I’m not going to play for zero-zero and I know that he’s not going to play for zero-zero. But sometimes they defend deep because you are better and sometimes they create a lot of chances because they are better. You accept it. It’s a good way for a team and a club to grow. Sometimes it’s sun, sometimes it’s rain.

“But I have said many times that I would (accept) being sat back for a long, long, long time and after that make just one transition to score a goal. I swear to God, I would do it. I would do it because I want to win desperately. So I can talk about being pragmatic. There’s no manager better at being pragmatic than me, I’m sorry. We won more in being that way, so why should I change? It’s difficult for me to change because the results are there.”

However, Guardiola did issue a warning to all teams from Anfield to the Emirates. After seeing his team open the defence of their title with four successive wins, he is certain that his players have the hunger to make it five-in-a-row.

Guardiola concluded: “The opponents know we are still there. I love the way we run and the pressing.”

“Still I see our team and still they surprise me. I feel amazed how, after many years, they are still doing what they do in every single minute of every single game.”

“That’s why I’m so optimistic. I’m so pleased with the things I am seeing.”

“Sometimes in the press conference right after the game you are confused with emotions. Sometimes I make an analysis of the game and sometimes I’m wrong.”

“I don’t have that feeling in those moments – and I don’t have that feeling right now.”