Pep Guardiola says he will not give Mikel Arteta any advice in the title race, and has also reacted to Manchester City being drawn against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Manchester City are facing Real for the 10th and 11th time in the last five seasons when they play the Spanish giants in mid-March.
Guardiola said on the draw: “For our club, as much (as) you play against the best times in all history in this competition, you learn, you improve and are better in the future.”
City will hope to welcome back Belgian winger Jeremy Doku for the tie, and Guardiola gave an update on the 23-year-old: “Yesterday, he made the first training session… I don’t know [when he will be back], we’ll talk with the doctors and officials afterwards.”
It is currently Ramadan and City have four players fasting, but the Spaniard said their fasting will not influence his selection: “Their fasting will not influence my selection. They can play and I can rely on them. They are practicing their religion. We have nutritionists and medical staff to support them.”
Rayan Aït-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov are all fasting, but Guardiola insisted they have been doing this every year since their childhood, so it will not impact their football.
“They’re used to it. They are not kids. They know how to play while fasting.”
City are currently five points behind league leaders Arsenal in the title race, but have a game in hand. Asked whether he remembered his first title win and what he would say to Mikel Arteta in this situation, he bluntly responded: “I don’t remember. I’m not here to give advice to Mikel.”