Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has urged his players to stay focused on their own performance rather than Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland, ahead of their Premier League match against Liverpool.
The Gunners dropped points for only the third time this season at the Stadium of Light, creating an opportunity for either City or Liverpool to cut the gap at the top of the table.
Guardiola acknowledged that Arsenal’s result could be seen as a boost for their title rivals, as it opened the door for movement in the league standings. He noted that it was natural for teams competing at the top to react to such outcomes, but insisted that Manchester City’s attention must remain on their own objectives.
The City boss said he spoke to his players about the importance of self-belief rather than relying on Arsenal’s performance. “I think Liverpool and us said ‘oh wow Arsenal dropped points finally and conceded two goals’. But at the end we have to do it,” he said, stressing that Manchester City must take responsibility on the pitch.
He explained that the team’s motivation must come from their confidence and ambition, not from Arsenal’s draw with Sunderland. Guardiola encouraged his players to approach the Liverpool game with the mindset of proving themselves as strong title contenders.
According to him, the key message before the game was to play with purpose and determination, without being influenced by Arsenal’s failure to secure a win. He added: “I said to the players ‘don’t do it because yesterday Arsenal didn’t win. Do it because we believe in ourselves that we can play against the champions of England and show them we are ready to be there with them this season’.”
Guardiola expressed confidence that his team has the mindset and quality needed to deliver a strong performance, as the match against Liverpool could have a significant effect on their campaign and ambitions this season.