‘Come on You Irons’ – Guardiola sends West Ham support after Manchester City win
Pep Guardiola sent West Ham a message of support ahead of their clash with Arsenal after his Manchester City side cut the Gunners’ lead at the top of the Premier League to two points with a 3-0 win over Brentford.
Guardiola’s men faced a tough challenge on Monday as they drew 3-3 with Everton to take control of Champions League final title race Arsenal.
City couldn’t get another chance against Keith Andrews’ side, but they worked hard to get through the first half at the Etihad Stadium.
However, Jeremy Doku, who rescued a point for Everton with a late equaliser, broke the deadlock in the same manner on the hour mark.
His right-footed curling effort was followed by Erling Haaland who slotted home a second, and the Norwegian played in Omar Marmoush to make it 3-0 in the second minute of stoppage time.
As well as closing the gap on Arsenal, the margin of victory means City are a goal behind the Gunners on goal difference, which could decide where the title goes.
City’s win piles the pressure on Arsenal ahead of their trip to relegation-threatened West Ham on Sunday, and Guardiola ended his post-match press conference by jokingly backing Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
Guardiola raised his arms above his head and fell on top of each other and said: “Come on you Irons.”
Manchester City’s ‘passionate’ title race
Earlier in the press conference, Guardiola was asked if he was enjoying the title race.
“I love you. I love being here again,” he replied. “We will finish in second place this season at least, I love it, I love being here. I didn’t enjoy it last season when we were fighting to enter the Champions League, it was very difficult.
“I love it; the Carabao Cup in our pocket, we’re going to play the FA Cup final at Wembley – the best game of the season – and I love it, I love it.
“Tense? No, no, no. If you arrive and you feel that the job was good, well done! When you get there, against Arsenal, you are always there, after so many changes that have happened, the spirit of the team, the way we help each other… It’s a pleasure to work with them! And how they fight, how the experienced players help, it’s really good!”
Pressed that he expects to slip away from Arsenal, Guardiola said: “We are fighting a big team like Liverpool!
“They entered the final of the Champions League, they didn’t lose a single game in this competition, they topped the league for almost the whole season. [them]they have to lose points.
“What we can do on Wednesday [vs Crystal Palace] won again, played in the FA Cup final, and Bournemouth… Look at Bournemouth, how they are at the moment, not the best place for them to go. And look at the last Aston Villa [game of the season]. The calendar is definitely needed.”
Guardiola praises Doku’s thinking
Doku scored his third goal in less than a week after scoring the highlight at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday.
The Belgian now has 20 goals (eight goals, 12 assists) in all competitions this season, having developed into a key player for City, Guardiola is delighted with the way Doku has shown as he has matured.
“He is an excellent professional, and I think that his soul is now calm, with his life, he has become very religious, and that helps,” explained Guardiola.
“Everybody knows that he made an incredible leap in the sense of, ‘I’m Jeremy Doky, I’m going to win games!’ And the great players, the greatest players always have that mindset. “
