Pep Guardiola has issued a clear message to Arsenal, insisting that Manchester City’s chase for the Premier League crown is far from over despite trailing Mikel Arteta’s side by six points after ten matches.
City face Liverpool on Sunday in what marks his Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th game as a coach and the manager reminded his players and rivals alike that the battle for the title is only just beginning.
The Manchester City manager struck a confident yet grounded tone as he spoke ahead of Sunday’s clash, acknowledging Arsenal’s brilliant start to the season while pointing out that history has shown how quickly the tide can turn.
“All we can do is win our games and be close. They (Arsenal) have to come here,” Guardiola said on Friday.
“In the last two or three years in terms of rebuilding a club and a team, then they are there [at the top]. It is exceptional what they are doing and did already for two or three seasons. But we are in early November and in early November no-one wins the title.”
City have seen this scenario before. Just last season, Arsenal led the table for much of the campaign, only for Guardiola’s men to overtake them in the decisive weeks.
After ten games of that title race, City were a single point behind; this time, the gap is six. Yet, Guardiola’s experience in handling long, gruelling campaigns could again prove decisive.
Arsenal’s flying start has seen them drop only four points so far, their best opening since the 2022–23 season when they pushed City all the way.
The Sky Blues, meanwhile, have endured a mixed run by their own lofty standards, dropping points unexpectedly and facing questions over consistency.
Still, Guardiola believes there’s plenty of football left to be played and crucial moments ahead — not least when Arsenal visit the Etihad Stadium on 18 April, a fixture that could once more determine the fate of the title.
City’s 4–1 demolition of Arsenal at the Etihad in 2023 was widely seen as the turning point in that season’s title race. It underlined Guardiola’s ability to outmanoeuvre his former assistant when the stakes are highest.
This time, with Liverpool also in the mix, the Spaniard knows that his team must rediscover their relentless rhythm to stay within striking distance.
The weekend’s meeting with Liverpool comes with an added layer of significance. It will be Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th game in management — a milestone that offers perspective on a glittering career spanning nearly two decades, from Barcelona B to the heights of Manchester City.
A milestone moment for a managerial great
Reflecting on the achievement, Guardiola admitted he never imagined reaching such a landmark when he first stepped into coaching in 2007.
His record is nothing short of extraordinary — 715 wins from 999 matches across Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City, with 12 league titles and three Champions League crowns among an astonishing 40 major trophies.
“I never thought for one second about reaching 1,000 games,” he said. “You just want to do a good job, play football the right way and see what happens. After that it’s a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication, passion, love. In that, nobody beats me.”
Few would argue with that claim. From revolutionising the modern game with his “tiki-taka” philosophy at Barcelona to adapting seamlessly to the rigours of English football, Guardiola’s influence stretches far beyond the silverware.
His Manchester City side, in particular, have defined an era of dominance — none more emphatically than in 2018, when they became the first Premier League team to reach 100 points in a single season.
“When I started, I didn’t expect this. But it is a joy. I didn’t enjoy every single moment but I enjoyed the journey a lot. I have been blessed,” he reflected.
The Spaniard’s success is underpinned by relentless standards and an insatiable hunger to improve. Even as he approaches his 1,000th match, there is no sign of that drive fading.
Guardiola’s admission carried a rare touch of pride, even self-awareness, when he added: “The numbers are insane, I’m sorry to tell you. When you have this milestone and you read what you have done … if I start again, I will not reach it.”
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Guardiola’s blend of humility and quiet arrogance has long defined his public persona — a perfectionist whose obsession with control and performance has elevated every team he has managed.
For all his trophies, it is his ability to maintain that edge, to keep his teams evolving, that continues to set him apart.
Now, as the Premier League enters its decisive phase, Guardiola finds himself once again in pursuit. But if history is any guide, that is exactly where he thrives.
His City teams have often been at their most dangerous when doubted, responding to setbacks with ruthless efficiency.
