Pep Guardiola fires Liverpool Istanbul warning to Man City squad in Arsenal title chase
Pep Guardiola cautioned his team that in football, just when you believe everything is going well, it can surprise you with unexpected setbacks.
Manchester City made a strong comeback on the south coast after a few shaky performances in which they lost four points in their previous four league games, and easily defeated Bournemouth who are currently struggling.
Manchester City reduced the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to only two points, and with their current performance, they appear to be capable of surpassing their rivals with an impressive end-of-season run.
However, Guardiola is not focusing on anything beyond their upcoming game in the FA Cup against Bristol City.
He reminded his team that even an experienced team is not immune to failure, as evidenced by one of the most remarkable comebacks in football history. Although City has won the title four times in the last five years, Arsenal has not won it since 2004.
But Guardiola said: “I would like to say that experience is an advantage, but I don’t know. I always put as an example to my players the Champions League final of 2005, when Liverpool played AC Milan. Liverpool made that comeback (winning the final on penalties after being 3-0 down).
“But Milan in that period had the most experienced line-up of players I had seen in a long time – Paolo Maldini, Gennaro Gattuso, Cafu. Football, when you think everything is under control, can punch you in the face and put you back into reality.
“But when I see lately in our games how we have fought and we tried to play, that makes me feel OK, we will fight to the end. I know how good Arsenal have been, how good Manchester United have been, and Newcastle are still there.
“We are calm. But, after winning what we have won this last few years, we still are in for three titles, and that makes me so proud.” Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Leicester earlier in the afternoon had piled the pressure back on City at the Vitality Stadium. But from minute one there was no doubting their intent.
Just 14 minutes into the game, Manchester City took the lead when Phil Foden’s shot was blocked, Erling Haaland’s attempt hit the crossbar, but Julian Alvarez was there to score the rebound. Later, Ilkay Gundogan’s cross found Foden, who got a touch, but the ball fell to Haaland, who scored his 27th goal of the season.
Bournemouth’s mistakes led to Manchester City’s third goal just before halftime, as Philip Billing gave the ball away to Foden, who easily scored after skipping past Jack Stephens. The game was already out of reach for Bournemouth, and City continued to dominate with Gundogan leading the way. City’s fourth goal came when Alvarez’s shot was deflected into the net by Chris Mepham.
Although City could have scored more, Bournemouth never gave up, and they were rewarded when Jordan Zemura’s impressive run resulted in a cross that Jefferson Lerma converted into a consolation goal.
Pep Guardiola fires Liverpool Istanbul warning to Man City squad in Arsenal title chase
