Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during a press conference in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, before the Champions League soccer match against Borussia Dortmund. (AP) LONDON: Pep Guardiola insists he “couldn’t care less” about Arsenal’s stumble that has put Manchester City back in the Premier League title race.Guardiola was in danger of being taken down by Arsenal after their inconsistent form left the Gunners in pole position.But Arsenal’s damaging draws against Wolves and Brentford provided second-placed City with a lifeline.They are now just five points behind Arsenal with a game in hand and a home game against Mikel Arteta’s men in April.If City win their remaining 12 games, they will become champions for the fifth time in the last six seasons.But Guardiola does not let the opportunity get carried away.Instead, his focus is on Saturday’s visit of Newcastle, where a win would close the gap on Arsenal to two points before the Gunners face Tottenham in a north London derby on Sunday.“I didn’t talk about the table, our position or anything like that. I didn’t care,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.“I haven’t talked about it for a second. Just Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle.”“If you ask me that question with two or three games left, I’ll have your answer. 12 games left, it’s an eternity.”After winning six titles in 10 years at City, Guardiola knows the final weeks of the season will bring more twists and turns.He also has the experience of watching Arsenal let substantial leads slip away in the title race in 2023 and 2024, allowing City to wrest the trophy from their grasp.“A lot of things will happen before the end of the season. For now it’s Newcastle, the rest and then Leeds. It’s always been that way,” he said.“Seventy percent of the players are new, so they don’t have the experience to live in those situations. The experience is to win tomorrow. There’s only one.”“Arsenal were nine points (ahead) when we had a game in the game, so whenever they all play the same games then we will see the difference.“I understand you want to predict what’s going to happen. That doesn’t count. It’s Newcastle, that’s all.”Meanwhile, Guardiola said racism remains a problem for society to heal, rather than just football.Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has claimed he was racially abused by Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni during this week’s Champions League tie.The match was abandoned in accordance with UEFA regulations after Vinicius claimed he was abused after celebrating scoring.“A lot of work still needs to be done. It’s in society, it’s not just in football. Racism is everywhere,” Guardiola said. “Are you pretending that racism is only about skin color? The way you are acting is racism.” “That’s how you pretend to be better than the other person, just for so many reasons.
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