The runaway Premier League leaders already have one piece of silverware in the bag, after winning the English League Cup Final in convincing fashion against Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday.
But, as he prepared to face the same side in a league game at the Emirates, Guardiola is far more interested in the six victories that will make the English title a mathematical certainty for City.
“We are fighting for the most important title of the season by far, the Premier League,” Guardiola told a news conference. “More important than the Champions League, more important than the FA Cup, Carabao (league) Cup. That is enough encouragement to be focused.
“The next six fixtures are terrible in terms of quality of the opponents, and we have four games away and we still have to win six games.
“When you think about Arsenal, you think about Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal and our away games – Stoke City playing (to avoid) relegation, going to Goodison Park (Everton) is always a tough game. We have a lot of tough games still to play and have to remain focused.”
The Catalan coach has won a total of six titles to date in his productive managerial career – three in Spain with Barcelona and the same number of German league championships with Bayern Munich.
‘Consistency’
Now on course for his seventh title in nine years of management in Europe’s top divisions, Guardiola has no doubt where his priorities lie. “The league is always the most difficult, a game every three days,” he said. “It shows how good you are over 11 months.
“All the titles I have won, La Liga, Bundesliga, the league is the most difficult. “In the Carabao Cup we won two penalty (shoot-out) rounds, Claudio Bravo saved them or you could be out. That is a toss of a coin, sometimes good, sometimes bad.
“The league is consistency, the players know that. They know exactly how important the league is for this club, for our futures. Of course we have to be focused, we know how tough it will be until the end of the season.”
Meanwhile, Guardiola insisted he was happy to talk to the Football Association after his highly-publicised charge relating to wearing a yellow ribbon during Manchester City’s recent FA Cup defeat at third-tier Wigan Athletic.
The 47-year-old was displaying the ribbon in support of four Catalans imprisoned in his homeland over issues relating to Catalan independence.
Having issued Guardiola with two formal warnings in December, the FA have charged him with “wearing a political message”, although the City manager insists that, while he has yet to have direct contact with the authorities, he would be happy to talk to them.
‘Belonging’
“Of course I’m going to write a letter, explain my position,” he said. “I’m available for the FA absolutely, it’s no problem.”
Guardiola also thanked City fans, some of whom wore yellow ribbons in support of their manager at Wembley in the Carabao Cup Final.
“It was a feeling of belonging, so I’m grateful for that initiative,” he said. “They don’t have to do it because it is another country but they did it.
“That makes me happy, really happy because it helps people understand the situation, what’s going on with people in prison in Spain. I’m 100 percent grateful to them.”
Guardiola will be without the injured Fernandinho and Raheem Sterling for Thursday’s visit to Arsenal, although he expects the latter to be available for Sunday’s home game with Chelsea or the Champions League return leg with Basel next week.
‘City must win more titles to be Premier League’s best’
Manchester City have won many admirers in their “wonder season” but need more trophies to be considered the best Premier League team ever, ex-Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has said.
City won manager Pep Guardiola his first silverware in England last weekend, romping to a 3-0 victory over Arsenal in the League Cup final.
The runaway league leaders are also on course to win a third Premier league title in seven
seasons.
“Everyone recognises the football that they’re playing this year is high up there with some of the best we’ve seen in the Premier League era,” former Wales winger Giggs said.
“But to compare them to ourselves, Arsenal and Chelsea, you have to win multiple titles. You have to be consistent, not just one wonder season, which they are having.”
United have won 13 championships since the Premier League era began in 1992-93, Chelsea have five, Arsenal are third in the list with three followed by City on two.
Giggs, who won 13 Premier League titles with United and made a record 963 appearances for the club, said City were capable of reaching greater heights in the coming seasons.
“It’s up to other clubs, the likes of United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham to do better next year and to challenge and see how they handle that.”
City, who have 72 points from 27 games and are 13 points above their neighbours United, visit sixth-placed Arsenal in the league today.