Pep Guardiola insists he “could not care less” about the title race between Manchester City and Arsenal as his side prepares to face Newcastle United in the Premier League.
City can reduce Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to just two points with a win over the Magpies on Saturday after the Gunners were held to a 2-2 draw by Wolves in midweek.
Guardiola’s men are breathing down the neck of the north London outfit, who have won just two of their last seven top-flight games.
The Catalan coach was asked numerous times about the title race at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, but he stressed that his only focus was on the visit of Newcastle.Â
“They were nine points when we had a game in hand, so whenever everybody is on the same fixtures and games being played then after we will see the difference,” Guardiola responded when asked about the gap between City and Arsenal.
“Many things going to happen. I said weeks ago. Many things are going to happen until the end of the season.”
He continued: “Twelve [more] games is a lot, like I said before. So Newcastle is my only concern.
“We will be concerned about the League cup final against Arsenal when it is coming up, but for now it is Newcastle, a rest and after it Leeds. It has always been like that.
“As a journalist, I understand you want to anticipate what is going to happen. That doesn’t count. It is Newcastle, that is all.”
Guardiola ‘couldn’t care less’ about title race with Arsenal
Asked what he discussed with his Man City squad after Arsenal dropped points at Wolves, Guardiola responded: “I didn’t talk about that for one second. Just Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle.
“I didn’t talk about the table, or our position or something like that. I could not care less. It’s 12 games [still to play].
“If you ask me this question with two or three games left, I will have your answer. It’s 12 games left, it’s an eternity.”
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