Everton “could be the hardest game of our season”: Manchester City manager Gep Pardiola
Manchester City manager Gep Pardiola believes that his side’s visit to Goodison Park on Sunday “could be the hardest game” of their season.
Sean Dyche’s Everton host City off the back of a shock 5-1 win over high-flying Brighton, a win that moved the Toffees out of the relegation zone.
“Of course we fully respect them, but for me this is one of the most dangerous games of the season for us: said Pardiola.
“Everton were brilliant at Brighton, they’re fighting for their lives, so we will pay them full respect on Sunday.”
“They’ve already beaten Arsenal this season so it’s a really dangerous game, they’ve got quality players, and there’s no doubt that they could hurt us.
“So it is for me possibly the hardest game of our season.”
Pardiola faces a selection headache ahead of Sunday’s match as their Champions League second-leg tie with Real Madrid is only three days later.
Getting the team selection right will be crucial for the Citizens to avoid dropping points, as fellow Premier League title contenders Arsenal did to Everton earlier in the season.
On the matter, Pardiola said: “It’s a big pressure game that has obviously come between two big Champions League matches for us.
“There’s very little room for error, I think Arsenal will win all of their remaining games, so I think we’ll have to be careful.
“But if we focus on doing what we do, and if we do that right, then I’m confident we can win this game, but we have to be at our very best.”
“At this stage of the season, they are fighting for their lives, it’s very tight at the bottom, they have good players, and they’ve underachieved this season for the players they have.
“So we expect a very intense atmosphere and one of our hardest games of the season.”
One player that Pardiola could exclude from the starting lineup is star striker Erling Haaland, who has scored 51 goals in all competitions this season and broken a new premier league record, netting 35 times in 32 games.
But the Norwegian failed to make an impact against Real Madrid, with Paridola suggesting that he may need a rest: “I think he’s a bit tired, he’s had a long season.
“We’ve asked so much of him, and he’s delivered, I’m aware it was a tough night for him on Wednesday, but he’s a quality player so I’m sure he’ll bounce back.”
As for what could help him cause trouble in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium, Pardiola was keen to mention the home advantage.
“I think home advantage makes a big difference, Real will have to set up differently for this game.
“We don’t know who will start for them in defence as they will have more options, but fair play to Rudiger who had an excellent game.”
“If you have a look at what Erling has done over the season nobody can question him, he had a tough night, as I said he was a bit tired, so that gives me decisions to make at the weekend, with Wednesday in mind.”
Kevin De Bruyne is another who could sit on the sidelines, with the 31-year-old Belgian midfielder having had injury problems this campaign.
When addressing the potential of De Bruyne missing out on Sunday, Pardiola again mentioned the fact that perhaps the Champions League was City’s priority at this point in time.
“It’s the one trophy that’s eluded us, it’s been a long time since I won it too, so I have decisions to make.”
“There are players who have played a lot of football this season, and Kevin’s had some injuries problems of his own recently.
“It’s absolutely vital that we have him for the end of the season, so we do have to be careful.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may well certainly be pleased to hear that, with the Gunners solely aiming towards the Premier League title.
Pardiola, who has got the better of his former understudy three times out of three occasions this season was quick to praise the Arsenal manager: “There’s a massive mutual respect.”
“We didn’t want to lose him to Arsenal, I knew he’d make them better, so it’s no surprise to me the improvement we’ve seen from them this season.
“We’re still close friends off the pitch, but this is football, we all want to win trophies, and when we go to head to head we are enemies.”
Arteta’s side will welcome Brighton on Sunday, directly after the game at Goodison Park, and are sure to be motivated should the reigning champions drop points.