Pep Guardiola says Bournemouth’s outstanding run of form and a lack of time to prepare for the game mean it will be a hugely tough test for his Man City side on Tuesday.
City currently sit two points behind league leaders Arsenal, who face Burnley on Monday night before City take on Bournemouth on Tuesday fresh off their FA Cup victory.
“Always they have been in the last years, a real tough game,” Guardiola said ahead of the trip to Bournemouth.
“Last season it was one of the worst performances in nine years. But when we played FA Cup quarter-final to come back to Wembley last season, we play really, really good so we will see which face we can show.
“We have three days (to prepare), they have ten days, they (are trying to) qualify for Champions League, so they have an argument to be their best version. I’m pretty sure it’s going to happen.
“When you arrive in the last fixtures, when you play for something important, the opponent not playing for anything is easier. That is not the case tomorrow.
“I’m pretty sure ten days they are thinking about us and we start to think on them, but it is what it is. When people say we play in the same conditions, never the teams who play in Europe, you always play in different conditions, so we are used to it.
“It happened against Chelsea. They had one week to prepare for the final, we had three days, but at the same time we prepare the best way knowing exactly what we have to do. It’s not very complicated. We have to win and have hope for the last game against Aston Villa.”
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Guardiola also says he has no concerns that Burnley will not give it their all against Arsenal, despite having already been relegated.
“Here in England, the teams always do their best,” he said.
“Look at, for example, Leeds. They are already safe and play against Spurs away, behave incredible and take a draw.
“Brighton is playing for every (European) competition, yesterday they (Leeds) beat them.
“Here in England, all their teams will do their best to win. In that sense it’s always so loyal. I don’t have any doubts that they will try. No doubts.”
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