Manchester City find themselves in a tough position on and off the pitch. The allegations of breaching the financial rules are now hanging over the club, while the reigning Premier League champions are in a battle to overhaul Arsenal and retain the title.
Although this could change if points are deducted, Pep Guardiola’s men cannot loosen their grip just yet. City's next three league fixtures are vital, and could go a long way to deciding the fate of their challenge.
The mood in the camp could be dictated by how distracted by the charges brought against the club Guardiola has allowed his players to be, but the players should deal with the situation regardless. City play Arsenal next week, while their two other games are against Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, who also cannot be taken lightly.
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Neither has Pep nor any player from City has spoken about the Premier League charges yet, but it will certainly be something that the manager will be asked to address in Friday's press conference.
The Premier League race is far from over, but Pep Guardiola’s men haven’t shown the zest needed to win it in the past couple of weeks. With clouds of uncertainty once again lingering over the club, it will be interesting to see how they respond. The team still has a shot at the Champions League and FA Cup aside from the Premier League and their squad is well poised to compete against the other sides to win these trophies.
However, it all comes down to the mentality of the players and the managers going into the crucial few months ahead of them.
City have players like Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, who have proven to be vital for them this season. The likes of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez have also played a big part for the team in big games. With the club entering one of the most difficult phases in their history, these are the experienced heads that will have to come up strong if they are to emerge well from the current situation.
Over the years, City fans have been extremely loyal and had their team’s back in all their glory. This is one time when the squad will have to respect the fans and give it their all for those faithful until the forces beyond their control decide what the future holds.
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