Pep Guardiola drops fresh verdict on Premier League title race
Pep Guardiola has urged supporters and commentators to avoid early assumptions about Manchester City’s title prospects, saying the Premier League table in November offers little insight into how the season will ultimately unfold.
Speaking at his press conference, in remarks reported by Reuters, PA Media and BBC Sport, Guardiola said it is far too soon to treat the current standings as meaningful.
“We are in November, and in November in this league nothing is final,” he said, according to Reuters. Guardiola explained that the early months of the campaign are distorted by transfer windows, staggered schedules and repeated breaks for international fixtures.
He added that discussions about a title race in the autumn are rarely reliable indicators of what happens later, noting, “What happens in February or March, be careful.”
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As highlighted by BBC Sport, Guardiola said he feels the season only settles into its true rhythm once the final international break ends and teams begin playing every few days. He described this stretch as the point at which the league’s competitive balance becomes clear and where consistency matters more than any isolated result.
Guardiola also praised Erling Haaland’s extraordinary scoring pace. PA Media reported that the striker is closing in on several goalscoring milestones at both club and international level.
Guardiola said Haaland has been “breaking all the records, personal and individual records, Premier League records, records for Norway,” and welcomed the forward’s continued form after scoring again during the international window.
On Rodri’s situation, Guardiola told reporters, as covered by BBC Sport, that the midfielder is making progress after a recent setback but is not yet ready to return fully. He stressed the importance of allowing Rodri to recover without pressure, saying he needs time “to recover mentally and especially physically.”
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Across his comments, Guardiola repeatedly returned to the message that the season’s decisive months remain ahead and that judging the title picture now is premature.
Sources: Reuters, PA Media, BBC Sport
