Guardiola not interested in EPL table

Dec 26, 2017 - 1:42 PM Pep Guardiola has told Manchester City to forget about the table ahead of a midweek Premier League trip to Newcastle.

Unbeaten City's outstanding season continued as they chalked up a record-extending 17th successive victory by thrashing Bournemouth 4-0 on Saturday.

That left them with a 13-point lead at the top of the table at the season's halfway point and with a remarkable 60 goals to their name.

But manager Guardiola continues to warn against complacency and is wary of the Magpies, who are the only team City are yet to face in the league this season.

"Do what we have done until now - that is what we have to do, and focus on Newcastle," he said.

"Focus on what we have to do on the pitch - defensively, offensively, individually, as a group.

"Forget a bit about the schedule and the table, and focus on what we have to do. That is the best way."

City reached the semi-finals of the League Cup last week and are already through to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Their form suggests this could be a phenomenal campaign but, should they maintain this trajectory, the problem of fixture congestion will undoubtedly rear its head.

That means squad rotation potentially coming into play more than it has to date, but Guardiola is confident he has enough tools at his disposal to plot a way forward.

"Fatigue I don't think (will be a problem). It may happen but we have a good enough squad," he said.

"Gabriel (Jesus) didn't play (on Saturday) but he played 120 minutes at Leicester and is the best fighter in the high pressing I have ever seen in my life. He helps us a lot with that intensity.

"Bernardo (Silva) played an amazing 30 minutes, Danilo helped us, (Ilkay) Gundogan as well and we have Yaya (Toure). Last game (Oleksandr) Zinchenko was man of the match and Saturday was not in the squad.

"Of course we are going to rotate in this period. Everybody has played in the past and everyone is going to play in the future."

Source: AAP