Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his admiration for Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice's assertion that the Premier League title race is far from over. This comes after City's 2-1 victory over Arsenal on Sunday, which has given them an opportunity to surpass the leaders on goal difference if they win against Burnley on Wednesday. Rice was seen telling his teammates that the title race is 'not done' despite the loss, a statement that has earned Guardiola's praise.
Guardiola stated, 'I love that. I love that,' during an interview with Sky Sports News, highlighting the competitive mentality of Arsenal. He believes this mindset is a key factor in Arsenal's successful season, including their unbeaten run in the Champions League. Guardiola also compared Rice's statement to his team's upcoming challenges, emphasizing the need for resilience in the face of adversity.
When asked if he had shown the video clip of Rice's statement to his players, Guardiola replied that his team is well aware of the competitive opponents they will face in the remaining games. One notable incident from the match against Arsenal was the altercation between Gabriel and Erling Haaland, which resulted in both players receiving yellow cards.
Guardiola drew parallels between this incident and two previous red cards given to his players, suggesting that Haaland's decision not to exaggerate the contact may have influenced the referee's decision. Guardiola seemed to imply that Haaland was 'punished' for not being a 'big artist' and staying on his feet after the apparent headbutt.
He expressed his pride in Haaland's behavior, stating that he is an 'extraordinary player.' With City potentially taking the top spot if they beat Burnley, Guardiola emphasized the importance of winning games rather than focusing on the margin of victory. He believes that the goal difference will take care of itself if the team wins their matches.