LONDON: Pep Guardiola rubbished Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho’s concession of the Premier League title to his Manchester City side as too soon and warned against complacency ahead of Saturday’s trip to Burnley.
Mourinho, whose rivalry with Guardiola stretches back to a stormy relationship as bosses of Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, said that United are now playing for second place after falling 15 points behind City with defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
But Guardiola is not ready to crown his side champions, despite his rivals already throwing in the towel.
“Not yet. There are 13 games, 39 points to play (for), we have a 15-point lead so it’s not over,” the City boss said.
“We have an amazing run of tough games to play, for example at Burnley.
“Everybody knows here in England how complicated it is playing in Burnley, and after we have to go to Stoke and Goodison Park.
“We have games against Arsenal, Tottenham, United, Chelsea...it’s definitely not over.”
City have broken records all season and, having found the net 73 times, have scored more top flight goals than any other team has at this stage of a Premier League campaign.
Yet, Guardiola is refusing to get carried away as City target a historic four-trophy haul in a packed schedule.
City are in action in three other competitions before the month is out as they travel to face Basel in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie, face third-tier Wigan in the FA Cup fifth round and Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final on Feb. 25.
Guardiola has already been forced to improvise this season due to a long-term knee injury to left-back Benjamin Mendy and could be forced to do so further up the field in the coming weeks.
Gabriel Jesus needs a further four to five weeks “rest” according to Guardiola following a knee injury suffered in December, while Leroy Sane faces six weeks out.
City also pulled out of the race to sign Riyad Mahrez in the final days of the transfer window.
“You talk with your staff and players and it’s something that you sense,” added Guardiola on his ability to find solutions.
“In many cases, we’ve seen wingers playing as full backs or midfielders as center-backs.”
Pep Guardiola rubbishes Jose Mourinho claim that Premier League title race is over
Pep Guardiola rubbishes Jose Mourinho claim that Premier League title race is over
Griezmann not moving to MLS this season, Atletico Madrid sporting director says
- The 34-year-old former France star had been linked to a transfer to Orlando City
- “He is going to continue with us and nothing more,” Alemany said
MADRID: Antoine Griezmann is not making an imminent move to Major League Soccer, according to the sporting director of Atletico Madrid.
The 34-year-old former France star had been linked to a transfer to Orlando City.
But Atletico sporting director Mateu Alemany said Saturday that “he has this season and two more years with us. I don’t see any major news.”
“He is going to continue with us and nothing more,” Alemany said before Griezmann got an assist to help beat Real Sociedad 3-2 in La Liga.
Griezmann, 34, is Atletico’s all-time leading scorer. He helped France win the 2018 World Cup before retiring from international soccer in 2024.
He has lost his starring role with Diego Simeone’s side this year with his coach managing his minutes, but even so he has scored 12 goals this campaign in all competitions.
Atletico will play Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final on April 18. Atletico are also third in the Spanish league and will play Tottenham in the Champions League round of 16 next week.
