Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will maintain focus despite title already being won
Saturday 21 April 2018 11:26, UK
Pep Guardiola says his respect for the Premier League and the possibility of setting new records will help to keep his Manchester City team focused for the rest of the season.
City secured their third title in seven seasons last weekend, with five games still to play, when rivals Manchester United fell to a shock home defeat against bottom side West Brom.
Live Nissan Super Sunday
Guardiola's side have dominated this season's competition to such an extent that they have a series of records - all held by Chelsea - in their sights over the final month's fixtures.
And the Spaniard hopes that will continue to motivate the new champions, as he said: "In the past I won the league at Barcelona and Bayern Munich five, six or seven games before [the end] and the next five or six games were not good. We tried to keep going but we were not able.
"Maybe to think about that - how many points we can get - can be a good argument to keep going with what we have to do.
"Of course what we should do in the Premier League is already done, the important thing is winning the title. But maybe that can help us to be focused."
Guardiola is also keen not to allow his side to coast home as they face five teams battling to avoid relegation, starting on Sunday against Swansea City.
Their remaining four opponents - West Ham, Huddersfield, Brighton and Southampton - are also in the bottom eight heading into the final weeks of the season.
He added: "It would be uncomfortable to finish in a bad way in the next five games. In the training sessions we will insist there are still games to play - (out of) respect for the five opponents and the rest of the competition.
"Always, for athletes, there has to be a target. When the target is already done what is the target to fight for?"
"[Swansea] are playing to stay in the Premier League. We have to convince the players they have got to be ready to face them."
