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Pep Guardiola insists Manchester Metropolis’s expertise of thriving underneath the stress of a title race is not going to be the decisive think about who wins the Premier League.
Guardiola’s males are aiming to turn out to be the primary facet to ever win 4 consecutive English top-flight titles and declare their sixth Premier League crown in seven seasons.
Nonetheless, Metropolis should come from behind within the ultimate 9 video games of the marketing campaign after a 0-0 draw at residence to Arsenal on Sunday left them nonetheless in third.
The defending champions path leaders Liverpool by three factors, with Metropolis one level behind second-placed Arsenal.
The stalemate with the Gunners means Metropolis are nonetheless to beat one of many high 5 within the Premier League in six makes an attempt this season.
And Guardiola confused the necessity for his facet to finish that file when fourth-placed Aston Villa go to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
“We have now not many possibilities to drop factors however there are nonetheless 9 video games (to go),” Guardiola mentioned at his pre-match press convention.
“Our expertise is over, it does not depend. What counts is Aston Villa.”
Metropolis are unbeaten in 23 video games, however their final defeat got here away to Villa in December.
Guardiola labelled that 1-0 loss as Metropolis’s worst efficiency of the season and is aware of he wants a response towards a Villa facet which were remodeled in 18 months underneath Unai Emery.
“Aston Villa are enjoying to qualify for the Champions League and each workforce is enjoying for one thing, so the final video games shall be tough to handle for all of us,” added Guardiola.
“It is glorious, the best way they play. Unai Emery has consistency in each season. Villa have been spectacular. It isn’t a shock, the standard of him, his administration and the standard of the workforce.”
John Stones may return to ease Metropolis’s damage issues in defence, however Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake and goalkeeper Ederson stay out.
