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Pep Guardiola anticipates that Chelsea will once again contend for the championship in the coming years.
In the 2016-17 season, Manchester City had their first year under Guardiola and Chelsea was the last team to win the Premier League.
City has been the dominant team in the competition, winning the title in five out of the last six seasons.
Since defeating City in the 2021 Champions League final, Chelsea has faced numerous challenges and currently holds the 10th position in the table.
Guardiola stated that Chelsea is still a significant team in England, as he prepares to face them at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
“While they may not have come close to winning the Premier League in recent seasons, there is no doubt that they remain one of the strongest teams in the league.”
In recent games, it is evident that they have a strong fighting spirit, are aggressive, and have a solid strategy. Their quality is also apparent.
This is one of the most challenging matches we face in the season. Chelsea will undoubtedly be competing for titles, and I predict it will happen sooner rather than later.
Mauricio Pochettino, the new manager of Chelsea, has had a challenging start to the season. However, Guardiola is confident that they will improve significantly.
He stated that it is expected for them to improve and that every manager requires time to adjust to a new club and players. However, he believes that they will become a strong competitor due to the high quality in all areas.
Reword: Two standout players for Chelsea this season have been Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling, both of whom previously played for City.
Palmer, a 21-year-old player from City Academy, transferred to a new club in August due to his disappointment with the limited chances for playing time at Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola stated that the reason for wanting game time was because he desired more playing opportunities. Now that he has achieved this, congratulations are in order.
“He is a male individual who originated from the academy, and if he is achieving success, it is positive for him. We offer our best wishes to him and are genuinely happy for his accomplishments.”
Sterling has achieved four Premier League titles and the FA Cup while playing for City. Guardiola acknowledges him as a potential threat for the upcoming weekend.
Guardiola commented that the player is currently performing at his best and has returned to his top form.
“He consistently presents formidable challenges for his adversaries.”
Source: independent.co.uk
