Pep Guardiola wants to send message to Premier League title rivals with style of play
Sunday 3 February 2019 16:34, UK
Pep Guardiola insists the best way for his Manchester City side to put pressure on league leaders Liverpool is to win matches in style.
City trail Liverpool by five points heading into this weekend's fixtures after they lost to Newcastle, 24 hours before Liverpool drew 1-1 with Leicester.
Guardiola's side host Arsenal, live on Sky Sports Premier League on Sunday, and can reduce the gap on Liverpool to two points with the Merseysiders in action against West Ham on Monday night.
The City boss understands the importance of picking up three points at the Etihad but has made clear he is also keen to send out a message to Liverpool counterpart Klopp.
He said: "You send the message in the way you play so the opponents, the managers, they are sitting watching our games and they see 'wow how good they are, how good they play'.
"That is the best way to put pressure on the opponents. It's not the points, it's the way you play. All the time it is the same and that is what we have to try to do again [against Arsenal on Sunday]."
Guardiola is a serial title-winner but his league triumphs with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City have been when his side have been frontrunners for the majority of the season.
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The City head coach is relishing the prospect of registering his first come-from-behind title success but wants to make sure his players stay true to his philosophy.
"I prefer it to be like last season but we know that was exceptional," he said.
"The satisfaction if you win is especially if we are who we are. The players know it, the players know we are a strong team. They know it and they know what we have to do."
