Pep Guardiola Doesn’t Want to Give Mikel Arteta Advice in the Race for the Premier League Title

Pep Guardiola makes it clear he won’t give Mikel Arteta advice in the fierce Premier League title race, while Manchester City gears up for their showdown with Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Guardiola refuses to advise Arteta in the Premier League

In a statement that surprised many, Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, made it clear that he has no intention of giving advice to Mikel Arteta in the Premier League title race. Arsenal, led by Arteta, currently hold a five-point lead over City, although Guardiola’s team has a game in hand that could bring them dangerously close.

When asked what he would say to Arteta under this pressure, the Spaniard responded bluntly: "I don’t remember. I’m not here to give advice to Mikel." According to sources like The Guardian, this response reflects Guardiola’s competitive mindset, focusing on his own team rather than getting involved in his rival’s strategy.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid: a historic clash

Attention is also turning to the Champions League, where Manchester City will once again face Real Madrid, marking the tenth and eleventh meeting in five seasons. Guardiola emphasized that "playing against the best in the history of this competition teaches you, improves you, and makes you better for the future."

The Spanish coach also confirmed that Jeremy Doku, 23-year-old Belgian winger, has returned to training after a muscular injury, although there is no confirmed date for his return.

Physical preparation during Ramadan

Another topic Guardiola addressed was the impact of Ramadan on some of his players. Rayan Aït-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Omar Marmoush, and Abdukodir Khusanov are fasting, but the coach insisted this will not affect their selection or performance: "They’ve been used to it since childhood, they’re not kids, they know how to play while fasting." Guardiola highlighted that his coaching and medical staff are supporting the players to ensure peak performance.

Pep Guardiola al finalizar un partido del Manchester City.

Premier League title race remains unpredictable

Despite Arsenal’s advantage, Guardiola made it clear that the title race is still open. The Gunners’ recent slip-ups, such as the 2-2 draw against Wolves and the 2-3 loss to Manchester United, have allowed City to close the gap with a winning streak, including their recent 2-1 victory over Newcastle with a double from Nico O’Reilly.