Guardiola says City far from done in title race

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola dismissed suggestions that his team faces elimination from the Premier League title race before their match against Aston Villa on Sunday. City sits three points behind Arsenal after eight matches and trails Liverpool by the same margin. The club captured six championships across seven seasons before finishing third last term.

Guardiola rejected predictions made after early fixtures and said clarity emerges only after 10 to 15 games. He noted observers quickly wrote off his squad after the opening matches before shifting their focus to Liverpool following three straight defeats. The manager confirmed injured players remain unavailable after missing the midweek Champions League victory over Villarreal.

Rodri has not appeared since sustaining a hamstring problem before the October international break. Nico Gonzalez suffered a foot injury against Villarreal and his status remains uncertain. Medical staff will evaluate the player before officials decide on his participation.

Guardiola addressed the increasing use of long throw-ins across the league and acknowledged City lacks personnel suited for that tactic. Brentford, Tottenham and Arsenal employ the strategy as an attacking weapon. The manager said teams must adjust their approach regardless of personal preferences about the method.