Manchester City meet Arsenal on Sunday but Pep Guardiola appeared to have his thoughts on bigger issues
Pep Guardiola attempted to put a little perspective on questions surrounding Arsenal’s alleged use of the ’dark arts’ ahead of Sunday’s EFL Cup final by suggesting more focus should instead be on the fact the “world is going to collapse”.
It is assumed Manchester City boss Guardiola was talking about the ongoing war in the Middle East, in which over 2000 people have died with no sign of it de-escalating, although no clarification was offered.
While that conflict continues, Guardiola has to prepare for the weekend trip to Wembley, although he gave short shrift to a question relating to Arsenal’s tactics.
He said: “Look what happens around the world, we are becoming in an incredible chaos and nobody moves one finger. Everything is behind the scenes. The world is going to collapse and still we are here talking about either dark arts of one team or another team. There are more important things than that…”
A tetchy Guardiola added when a similar question was posed: “Did you listen to me when I said about dark arts and Arsenal? Go to London. What time is the news conference with Mikel [Arteta]? You have time to go to there and ask him about that.”
Wembley clash won’t influence title race, says City boss Guardiola
City and Arsenal have slugged it out at the top of the Premier League table for most of the season and Guardiola is a fan of the team put together by Mikel Arteta, who previously formed part of his coaching staff at the Etihad.
“They control many things, many aspects of the game. For many years they have not won…but you see that boost, that solidarity,” he said.
“They can control when they defend deep, high, build-ups and long balls, second balls and there are so many good things. Their team is talented. Brilliant team. Big challenge for us.”
He dismissed suggestions Sunday’s game will give the victor a psychological edge in the title race, though.
“I said before, so, of course winning helps, but we can win the competition on Sunday, and then in the league we are bad, but then the opposite can happen,” he said.
Guardiola gave his players two days off following the midweek defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League and confirmed James Trafford, his regular starter in this competition, would again be in goal at Wembley.
