Jeremy Doku has lifted the lid on the message Pep Guardiola keeps repeating as the Premier League title race enters its final stretch.
Doku has been one of City’s most dangerous players this season, contributing five goals and seven assists in 28 Premier League appearances, and will be central to their hopes of winning both remaining games.
Speaking on Men in Blazers, the Belgian winger was asked what the Manchester City manager has been saying in the dressing room with two games to go.
“That it’s not over. It’s not over,” Doku said. “Obviously now we’re just concentrating on the final, but that is not over. It’s not in our hands anymore, but we know that we don’t want to just give it to them.
“So if they want to win, then they have to win their games and do everything, but we are not just gifting them the trophy.”
👀 Fill in the blank: Arsenal are taking _ points from the final two Premier League matches…
Guardiola has previously admitted that what Arsenal do will ultimately decide the destination of the trophy, and was even spotted giving Crystal Palace players a pep talk before they host the Gunners on the final day.
Doku’s teammate Phil Foden has also warned that City will keep Arsenal on their toes until the very end. Of course he has.
Premier League title still firmly in Arsenal’s hands
The reality, though, is fairly straightforward. Arsenal win their games, they are champions. That is it.
It only gets complicated if Arsenal drop points, in which case goal difference could become the decider — currently favouring City by a single goal.
That is precisely why going all out against Burnley on Monday night makes so much sense, banking on goals while the opportunity is there before the final day trip to Selhurst Park.
Starting Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze together from the off, with Declan Rice anchoring behind, would be a reasonable way to go about it.
This is our predicted Arsenal XI vs Burnley. What changes would you make?
Guardiola will keep the fire burning in his dressing room. He would be a fool not to. But Arsenal just need to win their games.
Do that, and no amount of Pep motivation will matter.
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