Pep Guardiola has dismissed Arsene Wenger ‘s
claim that teams with nothing to play for will roll
over in the Premier League run-in.
Wenger accused some teams of “being on
holiday” with his ire directed at West Ham, who
went down 4-0 at home to Arsenal’s top-four rivals
Liverpool on Sunday.
City, also chasing a top-four spot, host eighth-
placed West Brom tomorrow, with Guardiola
confident Tony Pulis’s side will not simply roll
over at the Etihad Stadium.
“They are professionals, they are going to play to
win the game,” said Guardiola.
“I don’t think a Tony Pulis team, with his history at
Stoke and now West Brom, will play a game
thinking it doesn’t matter.
“We are still playing for a lot of things and it’s a
real final for us and we are going to be ready to
play the game.”
Two wins in their final Premier League games
against West Brom and Watford will guarantee
third place for City, with Guardiola acknowledging
the significance of the last two fixtures.
Against that backdrop, and with so much still at
stake, Guardiola refused to give indications on the
futures of the City players out of contract this
summer, including Yaya Toure, who is set to be
handed a new deal.
“Tomorrow is important for next season,” said
Guardiola. “Next Sunday, then we start talking with
individual players [about their futures].
“I know you’re curious, but now it’s important to
stay in the present. If we weren’t play for anything,
it would be different.
“But we’re playing for a lot of important things
and hopefully the players are focused on that.”
