Guardiola makes Liverpool claim ahead of Premier League final stages
Pep Guardiola has claimed that his Manchester City side are public enemy in the United Kingdom, with Liverpool being the preferred team.
Manchester City widened the gap between themselves and second-placed Liverpool when the Reds failed to beat Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and City dispatched Newcastle United 5-0 on Sunday night.
City are now three points clear at the top with three games to go, and Liverpool have more to do if they hope to usurp the defending champions from defending their title.
Despite the win, however, Guardiola cliams that the whole country are willing their failure while supporting Liverpool who could win English football's first ever quadruple this season.
"A week ago, nobody [thought we would be champions]," Guardiola told beIN SPORTS at full-time. "Everyone in this country supports Liverpool, the media and everyone.
"Of course, Liverpool has an incredible history in Europe. Not in the Premier League - they've won one in 30 years. [But] the situation is what it is. We have to [take] nine points, maybe six right now.
"It depends what is going to happen over the next two games. Wednesday [against Wolves] is a real, real, real final for us. Our destiny is in our hands, and this is important."
Meanwhile, City will be finding out if their bid for Erling Haaland will be happening as the striker has been tipped by Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl to make a decision next week.
Guardiola's side have been tipped as the favourites to sign him from among all of Europe's top clubs. However, the striker never said a word on where he wants to be next season.
Haaland has a contract at the Westfalenstadion until 2023 but his £64 million release clause becomes active in June 2022. Signing him will cost in excess of £300 million due to his salary demands and agent fees.
Dortmund, on the other hand, want to keep Haaland and also have another contract waiting for him with hopes that he chooses to stay. That will also allow them to sell one of the world's most wanted players for a much higher price than £64 million.
Kehl has announced that he and the club will hear from the striker next week. Man City fans will now wait with baited breath.
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