Pep Guardiola insists it would be a ‘mistake’ to think about winning titles at this stage of the season, despite Manchester City’s strong start to the campaign.
City are top of the Premier League table and have won seven consecutive games in all competitions this season, ahead of Wednesday night’s trip to face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup.
The Citizens have become just the second defending champions to open a Premier League campaign with six straight victories, after Chelsea in 2005/06, but Guardiola insists it is important his side do not look too far ahead.
“It is nice to have the ambition but I say to the players the ambition is the next game. Right now, in the end of September, thinking about titles is a mistake,” he told his pre-match press conference.
“I don’t think the problem is mentally. All the players want to fight for titles and that is the best. The problem is a lack of rest. Mentally especially. The seasons come around with two or three weeks off and this is not a lot.
“The players want to win the games and fight to win the titles, these are the players all managers look for. The problem is for the years and years [in the future]. [I] complain a little bit here and then after that forget it and move towards our ambitions.”
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