
Tavernier to leave Rangers after 11 years
Rangers captain James Tavernier announces departure after 11 years
Pep Guardiola emphasizes that Manchester City must focus on winning games rather than goal difference as they approach the Premier League run-in. City recently defeated Arsenal 2-1 and can take the top spot with a win against Burnley.
Goal difference caveat canât distract Manchester City in Premier League run-in, says Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has addressed the possibility of the Premier League title being decided by goal difference, insisting the scenario cannot distract his side from the primary objective of winning every remaining game.
Manchester City cut Arsenalâs lead to three points with Sundayâs 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium, with Erling Haalandâs 65th-minute winner proving decisive after Rayan Cherki had opened the scoring and Kai Havertz levelled for the visitors.
City now travel to Burnley on Wednesday in a game that could take them level on points with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, setting up a finale of extraordinary drama.
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City won the season series against Arsenal, having beaten them 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, meaning if goal difference and goals scored are also equal between the pair, the Blues would win the title.
Pep Guardiola stated that goal difference should not distract Manchester City from their main goal of winning every remaining game.
Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki scored for Manchester City, while Kai Havertz scored for Arsenal in the 2-1 victory.
After their victory over Arsenal, Manchester City is now three points behind them in the Premier League standings.
Manchester City is scheduled to play Burnley on Wednesday night, where they can go top of the Premier League table with a win.

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The only previous instance of the Premier League title being decided on goal difference was the famous 2011-12 season, a precedent that gives the ongoing run-in a deeply resonant historical context for City supporters.
Speaking ahead of Wednesdayâs trip to Turf Moor, Guardiola acknowledged the possibility of goal difference coming into play while making clear it would not change how City approach their remaining fixtures.
âYes, absolutely,â the 55-year-old said. âIt can happen but it cannot be distracted from the fact that youâre going to score a lot of goals. It would be unbalanced, and without balance weâre going to concede a lot of goals. Itâs the same question.
âI have the feeling that the opponents we face are going to score a lot of goals, I would say, the margin. The rivals are really, really good defensively when we talk mainly about the next opponent.
âSo we have to try to go there, do what you have to do to win the game. Itâs the same thing before Arsenal. What is the game plan? What do you have to do to play? Not the consequences. Not what happens if you win or lose?
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âBefore Arsenal everybody said, âWhat happens if you lose?â Nobody asked, âWhat happens if you win?â So that is the same. What do you have to do in the game plan to beat Burnley?â
The Manchester City manager was equally clear that any attempt to engineer a high-scoring performance at the expense of structural balance would be counterproductive, pointing to the quality of Burnleyâs defence as the key factor shaping Cityâs approach on Wednesday.
âThe game will dictate if weâre going to score goals or not,â Guardiola added. âAs much as we play, more chances weâll have to play. If you tell me, âListen, if youâre going to play seven strikers you are going to score 20 goalsâ. Okay, Iâm going to play with seven strikers, but that doesnât work.
âSo we have to defend well, all the throw-ins, set pieces, and after attack well, defend well, do all the things we are working on or talking about for the last month.
âSo thatâs what we have to do. After, maybe, we are able for our game, itâs fluid, itâs nice, in the momentum, we can score lots of goals.â
With City holding the head-to-head advantage and the title race now in the balance on every conceivable tiebreaker, Guardiolaâs message to his players is simple: win the football games and everything else will take care of itself.