Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has warned his Premier League rivals that ‘the season starts now’ as they return to action against Newcastle on Saturday.
City were poor last season by their own high standards, dropping 20 points from the year before to finish third in a stuuttering campaign.
Buut a summer rebuild has seen them win nine of their last 11 games, and they could cut the gap at the top of the Premier League to a single point with victory at Newcastle.
With leaders Arsenal not playing until they host local rivals Tottenham on Sunday afternoon, City can put the pressure on.
“We are in November, and in November in this league nothing is final,” Guardiola said. “What happens in February or March, be careful. But the season starts now.
“The first start is when the transfer window is over in the summer. And now again when the international breaks are over.
“Now until March we see each other every three days. Now the real season starts.
“It is important to be there and to arrive at the end of the season with a chance to fight. Winning (in Newcastle) would be an important step for us.”
100 up for Haaland?
City striker Erling Haaland goes into Saturday’s game on 99 Premier League goals from 108 appearances and can break Alan Shearer’s record of being the fastest to reach a century – which currently stands at 124 games.
Haaland score four more last week to help Norway qualify for their first World Cup appearance since 1998. In all, Haaland scored 16 goals in eight games during their qualifying campaign.
“He’s incredible this season,” Guardiola said. “He’s breaking all the records, personal and individual records, Premier League records, records for Norway/
“I’m happy for him, his national team. I saw that many of the squad for Norway weren’t even born the last time Norway were in the World Cup.
“As a football player, a world-class player, he deserves to play a World Cup and live the experience. I’m so happy for him.”
