Pep Guardiola says he never had any doubts about his Manchester City side after they bounced back from back-to-back defeats to beat RB Leipzig – and now he’s itching to take on Arsenal.
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The treble winners were knocked out of the Carabao Cup last week by Newcastle before suffering a shock defeat to Wolves in the Premier League at the weekend.
On Wednesday night in the Champions League they travelled to Leipzig – a ground where they had failed to win in their previous two visits – and delivered an excellent performance, dominating the match en route to a 3-1 victory.
There were a few nervy moments after Lois Openda equalised shortly after half-time, but substitutes Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku both netted off the bench to secure all three points late on.
Now City travel to the Emirates on Sunday to take on title rivals Arsenal and Guardiola was in a buoyant mood ahead of the match, saying he has always had total faith in his side despite recent poor results and intends to play ‘our game’ in north London.
Asked about the importance of delivering such a strong performance ahead of facing Arsenal, Guardiola told TNT Sports: ‘Yeah, but I’m not going to judge my team on results.
‘Both games [against Newcastle and Wolves] was maybe not the best performance but it was not easy when 10 players defend in the box.
‘Ten players defending, five players, four players and a striker and a holding midfielder all in the box, it’s not easy!
‘So it happened, we were unlucky with the first goal, we were not sharp enough, it happened. It’s many games so I can understand it.
‘But despite that, if you think I’m going to doubt about the players or doubt about what we’re going to do this season because today we could have lost again, then you are wrong. You are not the right person to do these questions.
‘I rely on these guys unconditionally, winning or not winning, because I know the training sessions, the mentality that they have and they prove it.
‘And now we are going to Arsenal to do our game. Rest and hopefully we can arrive in March, April, May being there [in the title race], close to the competitions.
‘And I have a feeling we will not be an easy opponent to beat.’
Guardiola also singled out teenager Rico Lewis for particular praise after the win over Leipzig, describing him as ‘outstanding’, and he could be in line to play in midfield against Arsenal in the absence of the suspended Rodri.
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