Manchester City are preparing for more final day drama

Manchester City are currently continuing their preparations for the final Premier League game of the season. Pep Guardiola’s side will face West Ham on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium. A win over David Moyes side would see the world champions create history and claim a fourth consecutive Premier League title. But they are expecting the game to be anything but a formality based on Pep Guardiola’s comments during his pre-game press conference yesterday.

The City manager refused to be drawn on what a win on Sunday and a fourth consecutive Premier League title would mean. Instead, he was focused on preparing his team for the challenge posed by West Ham. He told the media: “I don’t want to play the game thinking of consequences. More than ever focused, what to do to score goals. Break when deep how they arrive in the box. Feel the support from our people. This is what we have to think about. The rest later.”

Guardiola is also expecting a tough game against West Ham. While the perception is that Manchester City will cruise past West Ham to win the title, Guardiola is expecting a tough day. City have experienced this previously on the final day with heroic wins over QPR in 2012 and Aston Villa in 2022. Pep is expecting something similar on Sunday. He is expecting David Moyes and his team to be up for the fight. Guardiola added: “He will do everything to beat us. Happened against Villa and QPR. I’m ready to be at a tough game. They will be ready to beat us.”

Despite the misconception that the Premier League is boring, the final day is delicately poised. Manchester City know they must beat West Ham on Sunday to create history. Arsenal will be hoping to beat Everton so they can potentially take advantage of any slip ups by Pep Guardiola’s side. It is set up to be a nail biting day at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, something Manchester City fans know all too well.

The world champions have needed final day heroics before to claim the Premier League title. Sergio Aguero’s famous goal against QPR in 2012 and Ilkay Gundogan’s heroics in 2022 against Aston Villa are always at the back of City fans’ minds. Pep Guardiola has his squad prepared for something similar to unfold on Sunday. They may need to draw on their fight until the end spirit on Sunday to take their place in Premier League history.