Pep Guardiola insists the Premier League is the ‘most important’ trophy for Manchester City as the club close in on the title.
City will be crowned champions if the league leaders beat Chelsea at the Etihad this weekend, while the club’s fifth title in six seasons will already be confirmed if Nottingham Forest beat Arsenal a day earlier.
City progressed to the Champions League final after thrashing Real Madrid in midweek and are in pursuit of a treble, with an FA Cup final against Manchester United also still to come on June 3.
Guardiola was asked for his reaction to reaching the former final as City chase a first-ever success in Europe this season, but admits the Premier League remains the most important competition for his side.
“We are satisfied to be able to play the Champions League final,” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference.
“It is non-stop and now comes the most difficult thing at the end. All the tennis players serve to win Wimbledon know it is the most difficult one.
“On Sunday, the game is in our hands to win the most important competition – the Premier League is the most important because for 11 months it’s every week.”
Guardiola could win his fifth Premier League title this weekend, with only three managers in English football history – Sir Alex Ferguson (Man Utd), Bob Paisley (Liverpool) and George Ramsey (Aston Villa) – having ever won the top-flight on more occasions.
Asked if he envisaged such success when arriving at City, Guardiola said: “I love myself a lot but I never thought that.
“I thought we would do a good job but I arrived with no expectation. I could not imagine what we would do in the Premier League.”
