Pep Guardiola makes telling Man Utd comment as City's title rivals listed

Man City manager Pep Guardiola is bracing for a very tough battle at the top end of the Premier League this season.

The Citizens clinched an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title in the 2023/24 season, edging out Arsenal by just one point. With Guardiola in the last year of his contract, he’s aiming to leave the Etihad on a high note, should he decide to move on.

Despite securing six titles in eight years since joining City in 2016, Guardiola is well aware of the competition ahead. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has identified six teams as potential rivals this season.

Guardiola expects Chelsea, under Enzo Maresca, to be a formidable opponent in Sunday’s match-up. He also notes Man Utd’s transfer activity as a sign they’ll be part of the challenging group.

“Always at the beginning of the season, the first target is to finish in the top four,” said Guardiola. “People say: ‘Oh, come on’, I say ‘no’. Newcastle are not in Europe, and are going to play one game a week. Newcastle with one game a week this season will be the Newcastle of two seasons ago.

“Arsenal are not necessary to talk about. Liverpool are not necessary to talk about. I know the signings of United, they are going to take the momentum and they will be there.

“Tottenham, I’m pretty sure they invest and with the young players and the manager knows better. There are a lot of teams – Chelsea again, the amount of players and their quality and the manager. Six or seven teams will be there and if you drop a little bit, you will be away.

“This is the reality that I have felt since the first season I arrived here and after we proved to ourselves that we can do it and to try to do it again. It’s simple.”

He also discussed whether his side are title favourites this season, with Arsenal looking to go one better.

“In the past, yes, with six from seven, we have conquered the Premier League – but now we start from zero,” the City boss said. “There are 114 points to play (for) and we start from zero like everyone. Now we have to conquer again because they are not going to just give us the Premier League for the 24-25 season.

“I understand when people say we are favourites – and we have to accept it. When you win four in a row and six in seven, it is normal that you are favourites. We have to live with that – but I know what we have to do. It is point by point that we must win and, of course, ever season it becomes more difficult.”