Pep Guardiola believes that come the end of the season, Jose Mourinho will be one of his main rivals challenging for the title. Manchester City are currently eight points ahead of cross-city rivals Manchester United but the Catalan manager isn't taking anything for granted in the Premier League.
With only one win in the last four league games for Manchester United, many critics and pundits are already excluding them from the title race but the former Barcelona manager admits Mourinho will be in the mix at the end of the season along with a host of other clubs.
Guardiola said: “We knew that from the beginning. Before I arrived here I knew that so many teams can win the Premier League.
“I think it is going to be decided in the last eight or 10 games.
“The important thing is to be there in that time.”
And Guardiola admits the extra games in the UEFA Champions League is affecting his team but is glad to be amongst the mix with some of the usuals in the league.
“After eight games in the Champions League we are there with top teams like Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham,” he said. “And of course United, because United are getting better in their last games so are now a real contender to win the Premier League.
“It’s always difficult after the Champions League game because of the travel and the demands are not just physical, but mental.
“After the Champions League games it is so tough and most of the players are not used to playing three days after the Champions League - but they are in process.
“We are working on that.”
Must like their noisy neighbours, Manchester City haven’t won much in their last five Premier League games. With two wins and three draws, their early-season form has dwindled and they're in the process of finally getting a host of their better players to play together and form a solid core.
Pep Guardiola has already played Jose Mourinho twice on British shores this season. The first one being in the Premier League where Pep got the better of his rival and the second was in the League Cup when Mourinho ensured he got back over Pep.
Manchester City are currently third in the Premier League behind Chelsea and Liverpool while Manchester United are in sixth behind North London pair Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
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