Pep Guardiola has told his Manchester City players to forget about Real Madrid and focus on beating Crystal Palace to maintain their title push.
City go to Palace in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off, with Guardiola demanding his players not allow their minds to wander to next week's Madrid clash. Treble winners City take on Real at the Bernabeu on Tuesday in the first leg of what could prove to be an epic Champions League quarter-final clash.
But Guardiola has warned his players they cannot afford to drop points at Selhurst Park if they want to win a record-breaking fourth straight title. And the City boss said the Premier League will always take priority over the Champions League – because it is so much harder to win.
“It's always been like that,” said Guardiola. “When we won the Treble last season, we arrived in the semi-finals of the Champions League and won the Premier League.
“Honestly, if we were 18 points in front of second in the Premier League, I would have two eyes on Madrid. But it's not the case. We're third, not far away from the top of the Premier League, but if we drop points it will be almost impossible.
“So we have to win the game against Palace and after that we will have more time, not for recovery, but to prepare. When we have been fighting for nine or 10 months for the Premier League, why should I be distracted now from this important game against Palace, when the distance is so close?"
Although City finally conquered Europe last season by winning the Champions League, for Guardiola the league title is the trophy he covets the most. “I love it,” said the City boss. “Of the domestic trophies, it's the most important – the Premier League or La Liga.
“I'm not going to say the Champions League is not nice, of
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