Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that Newcastle United can challenge for the Premier League title this season.
Man City is the defending Premier League champion after securing the title with 93 points from 38 games in the 21/22 season. The Manchester team currently occupies second position in the Premier League points table in the 22/23 season.
Man City have 29 points from 12 league games so far this season. And they are just two points behind Arsenal, who sit top of the Premier League on 31 points.
Just behind Man City in the points table are Tottenham Hotspur, third, and Newcastle United, fourth. Tottenham have 26 points and Newcastle United have 23 points, but both teams have played one game more than Arsenal and Man City.
Pep Guardiola says Newcastle United can fight for the Premier League title this season
Speaking ahead of Man City’s Premier League clash with Fulham, Guardiola admitted that Newcastle United may be a threat to their bid to retain the Premier League title.
Guardiola said that Newcastle United have a good manager and top-class players and mentioned an advantage they have over the other title contenders.
The Man City manager pointed out that Newcastle are not playing in European competition this season, and that helps them enter the final months of the league campaign with energy.
“Newcastle have a good manager and top players,” Guardiola said. [via 90min]. “I imagine they are going to stay there for a long time.
“They have physicality in the middle, frame-to-frame transitions and their intensity off the ball is impressive. Also, they are not playing in Europe, which is a great advantage because when you arrive in the last few months you have energy.
Newcastle United, who were very active in the summer and strengthened their squad, have been impressive in the Premier League so far this season. The Magpies have only lost one game so far, and that’s the same number of games Arsenal and Man City have lost in the league this season.
Meanwhile, Man City and Newcastle United met in the Premier League earlier this season. Newcastle hosted Man City at St. James’ Park in August and shared points after drawing 3-3.
At one point, Man City found themselves losing 3-1 to Newcastle United but fought their way back into the game to save a point.
