Pep Guardiola gives X-rated answer to questions about Manchester City's popularity ahead of title decision
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gave an X-rated four-word answer when asked about his team's popularity.
City can battle title rivals Arsenal and clinch a fourth successive Premier League trophy on Sunday with a win over West Ham on the final day of the season.
Guardiola's team also has the opportunity to achieve a national double if it beats its neighbors manchester united in next weekend's FA Cup final.
City can become the first English team to win four top-flight titles in a row, but discontent remains over their 115-charge investigation by the Premier League over alleged financial irregularities.
During his pre-match press conference on Friday, the Spaniard was asked if people like his city of manchester equipment.
To which he replied: “Shit! I don't know!
“Sometimes people ask me what I think people think about something and I don't think. I don't go knocking on doors asking what they think. I don't know, honestly.
However, despite rumors about his club from rival fans and pundits, including talkSPORT's Simon Jordan – Guardiola believes that a fourth consecutive title will earn his team the global respect it deserves.
“I think so. In world football, for sure,” he told reporters before Sunday's decider.
“Even if we didn't win it, it was very good. We are still here together and nothing is going to change if we win four in a row or if Arsenal win the Premier League. We know how good we have been.”
A win at the Etihad Stadium this weekend would give Guardiola his sixth Premier League title and the club's eighth overall since his first in 2012.
City are no strangers to final day drama, having been pushed to the limit in 2012 by Manchester United and Liverpool in 2022, in which City fell 2-0 until Aston Villa only to recover and claim a 3-2 victory.
This time, it is Mikel Arteta's Arsenal who have hopes of taking City to the crown and Guardiola says he expects another tense afternoon.
“I have the feeling it will be an Aston Villa game,” Guardiola added. “We would love to be 3-0 up, but that's not going to happen.
“I'm ready for a tough, very tough game. I want to leave that in the players' minds.
“The same thing is going to happen. We and our people have to be prepared to support us from the first minute and be with us.”