Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side breezed past Crystal Palace before the Catalan was seeing chatting to a number of the Eagles' stars, who still need to play Arsenal this season
Pep Guardiola was seen speaking to a number of Crystal Palace stars at full-time - less than two weeks before they play Arsenal
Pep Guardiola was seen speaking to a number of Crystal Palace stars at full-time - less than two weeks before they play Arsenal(Image: Sky Sports)
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Pep Guardiola went round several of the Crystal Palace players after Manchester City's win on Wednesday with suggestions he was rallying them to do his side a favour when they play Arsenal.
At the Etihad, the title chasers secured a routine 3-0 win with Antoine Semenyo and Omar Marmoush among the goals. Savinho wrapped up the game in the second-half as City closed to within two points of league leaders Arsenal with two games remaining.
The Gunners, eyeing their first title since 2004, will play Palace in the final game of the season at Selhurst Park. City will likely require a favour from the Eagles if they are to claim the title as they need Arsenal to slip up.
Guardiola was all smiles all full-time as the Sky Sports pundits joked that he was going round the Palace players giving them advice. The Catalan was seen chatting with Jefferson Lerma, Maxence Lacroix and Adam Wharton.
There is talk of Palace resting their top players for the final games of the season, although they put out a strong team for their trip to Manchester. Oliver Glasner's side have a Europa Conference League final to come later in May and the Austrian has suggested that he may manage his players' workload - but insists that won't impact the destination of the title.
Glasner recently claimed: “To be honest, if somebody criticises me, it would be nonsense. It’s just the last game but there are 37 games played before. That means if another team on matchday 25 rotated against City or Arsenal, they affected the title race as well."
Guardiola's side will now shift their focus to their FA Cup final at the weekend as they take on Chelsea at Wembley. After that they will face Bournemouth before a final day of the season clash against Aston Villa. They will likely need six points if they want to become champions, but the City boss insists they can only put the pressure on.
Adam Wharton remains one of Crystal Palace's most influential players
Adam Wharton remains one of Crystal Palace's most influential players
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"It depends on them [Arsenal]. If they win two games, nothing to do, nothing to talk," he said. "All we can be is in there just in case. The last two games are tough. And we all we can do now is go to sleep as quickly as possible and prepare for the FA Cup. That is what we have to do.
"But it's not just FA Cup final, it's Bournemouth three days after. So travel to London, they [players] will be at home with wife and kids, so fatigue, fatigue."
Guardiola has never gone successive years without a league title in his managerial career, but after Liverpool won the league last term the possibility now exists that the City boss could be denied two years on the bounce after winning six in seven years.
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