Pep Guardiola sends warning ahead of the Manchester City vs Bournemouth match, urging his players not to underestimate their visitors during the Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The match will give City the opportunity to bounce back from a disappointing defeat and maintain pressure in the title race.
City’s long unbeaten streak across all competitions came to a halt last weekend when Aston Villa edged them 1-0 at Villa Park, with Matty Cash’s first-half strike proving decisive.
The loss ended a nine-game run without defeat and raised fresh doubts about City’s consistency in their pursuit of league leaders Arsenal.
Guardiola, however, remains focused on the bigger picture. The Spaniard’s side returned to winning ways in midweek, easing into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory away to Swansea City.
Goals from Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki sealed the result, offering a timely boost to morale before a critical stretch of fixtures that includes meetings with Bournemouth, Borussia Dortmund, and Liverpool.
Guardiola urges focus and respect for Bournemouth
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Manchester City vs Bournemouth match, Guardiola was quick to dismiss any notion that the visitors would be an easy opponent.
The Cherries have displayed resilience under manager Andoni Iraola, and the City boss was full of respect for their structure and organisation.
“It’s a consistent team, and a fantastic team, manager, players. A tough opponent, but we know,” said Guardiola during Friday’s press conference.
With key players rested in midweek—including Erling Haaland, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders—Guardiola is expected to rotate his squad once again. The upcoming run of fixtures demands sharpness and balance, and Guardiola has stressed the need for mental and physical readiness.
One positive for City is the potential return of Rodri, who has been sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring injury. The midfielder, a recent Ballon d’Or winner, has returned to training and could feature in some capacity on Sunday.
His influence in midfield has been sorely missed in recent weeks, and his availability would provide a major boost as City look to regain rhythm in domestic competition.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, arrive at the Etihad with a renewed sense of confidence. Despite inconsistent results, Iraola’s men have shown flashes of the fluid, attacking football he brought from Spain.
Guardiola’s respect for the south coast side stems not only from their energy but also from their tactical discipline—traits that have made them a challenging opponent for several top teams this season.
The City boss reminded his players that every fixture at this stage of the campaign carries significance.
Title pressure mounts as City chase Arsenal
While Manchester City’s pedigree as serial title winners remains undisputed, the challenge this season looks particularly fierce. Arsenal, rejuvenated under Mikel Arteta, have been relentless at the summit and currently hold a six-point advantage over City.
Guardiola’s side, meanwhile, have shown flashes of brilliance but have struggled to find their usual consistency.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola also spoke warmly of City’s recent recovery, praising the way Guardiola’s men have bounced back from early-season setbacks.
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City’s run-in before the international break will test their endurance. After facing Bournemouth, they travel to Germany for a Champions League meeting with Borussia Dortmund before returning to England for a top-of-the-table showdown with Liverpool.
Guardiola will be mindful of the physical demands on his players, particularly after several of his stars featured heavily in both domestic and European fixtures throughout October.
Erling Haaland, who was rested in midweek, remains central to City’s attacking plans. The Norwegian striker has continued his prolific form, but Guardiola has been cautious with his minutes amid concerns over fatigue.
Haaland’s return to the starting lineup on Sunday could provide the cutting edge that City lacked at Villa Park.
