Pep Guardiola has sent a warning to write Manchester City off at their own peril. The champions sit 5th in the Premier League table as it stands. After a poor run of results by City’s standards there has been doubt cast on if they can win a fourth consecutive Premier League title. But the treble winners do return from a successful FIFA Club World Cup campaign with the hope it will kick start their season. With the doubters at City’s door it may add fuel to the champions fire and become a source of motivation for the world champions.
This isn’t new territory for Manchester City. They have overcome sizable gaps in the Premier League table in previous campaigns. Last season saw them overhaul an 8-point gap to Arsenal to secure a third successive Premier League title. As it stands currently they sit 8 points behind current leaders Liverpool with two games in hand. But with City having 21 Premier League fixtures remaining it is still only early days in the season.
City manager Pep Guardiola is expecting the doubters to come. After an era of success, he knows there are fans and pundits expecting his side to fail. Speaking with Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail before Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Everton he said: “The more you win, they want you to fail more than ever. I’ve felt that since day one in Barcelona, that people are waiting.”
The City manager added that people doubting his side just add fuel to City’s fire adding: “They don’t understand anything about what we do but they give credit just because we win. You have to look further than that. In the moment you don’t win there are going to be doubts. That is OK. Doubt us again. We’ll see what happens.”
The motivation to win four consecutive Premier League titles is there for Manchester City. Also, the chance to prove the doubters wrong adds fuel to City’s fire.
