‘Finally, Man Utd are coming’ – Guardiola fears City’s neighbours could become title rivals for first time post-Fergie
PEP GUARDIOLA warned that he is hearing the sound of sabre-rattling within Old Trafford.
And, for him, that means there could be two teams from Manchester fighting for this season’s Premier League title.
Legend Sir Alex Ferguson described United’s Etihad rivals as “noisy neighbours” — before they soon began dominating English football.
And it was Fergie who guided the red half of the city to their last title way back in 2013 before he retired.
Yet Guardiola is watching very closely what is now happening under a new boss — and he declared: “I have a feeling that United is coming. Finally, United is coming.”
Those words are probably the biggest compliment yet paid to Old Trafford gaffer Erik ten Hag since he began his extensive and expensive reconstruction work in the summer.
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Guardiola revealed he watched United’s impressive 3–0 Europa League win over Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday — and also the Red Devils’ 1-1 Premier League clash with Chelsea.
And the City chief said: “I saw yesterday and Chelsea the first half. I thought, ‘I like it’ what I see from United just now.
“There will be a lot of teams, that is why you have to fight for the Champions League and fight for the title.”
Guardiola, with four Premier League titles to his name already, insists that making sure his reigning champs finish top of the tree this season will be harder than ever.
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City sit two points behind leaders Arsenal and this week completed a cruise through their Champions League group.
Yet Guardiola is wary about the months ahead, saying: “The priority was the Champions League and not so much our Premier League form.
“But now we have just three games left before the World Cup finals — and I think those games will be saying a lot about how we see the Prem.”
Guardiola includes fourth-placed Newcastle as another team who can join the usual suspects in trying to hunt his side down.
And the Catalan is hopeful superstar striker Erling Haaland, who has 17 Premier League goals, will recover from a slight ankle injury in time for Saturday’s trip to Leicester.
The ex-Barcelona boss added: “In the first 10 games you don’t win the Premier League. But you can be a little bit behind.
“Newcastle are already there. I saw them against Tottenham and the physicality from both sides.
“We played them in the third game of the season — imagine this team playing only one game a week. They are a contender to be there.
“We know how good Eddie Howe the manager is. They have new players. They play brave.
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“They are there — but also we are still there.
“This football business is very difficult, despite people saying, ‘You have spent a lot of money’.”