'Imagine Spurs away' - Pep Guardiola wants Man City stars to prove him wrong

Pep Guardiola told Manchester City players to prove him wrong again with the toughest fixture left in their Premier League run-in.

City have the title race in their hands but will be four points behind leaders Arsenal when they play the first of their two games in hand at Brighton on Thursday. As well as being tired from a relentless schedule, City's manager does not expect the Blues to face a tougher match in their six remaining than their next one.

Brighton may have struggled for consistency this season after adding the Europa League to their calendar but Guardiola's admiration for manager Roberto De Zerbi has grown and the Italian is still regarded as someone who could step into one of the bigger clubs. With more time to prepare than City have had, the team will have to be at their best to leave the south coast with three points.

ALSO READ: Man City suffer Erling Haaland blow but get double fitness boost

ALSO READ: Guardiola gives City stand on Nottingham Forest complaint

"They have been occupying my mind, trying to figure out how they are," said Guardiola. "They have one week or ten days to prepare that game so I know with Roberto how professional he is and he will use all the details to find all the weakness spots that we can have and it will be really tough.

"They’ll test us in ways we are not used to. In that moment we have to be strong and patient and at the same time make them uncomfortable – so it might be the toughest. I'm not saying the other ones are not – because of course imagine Spurs away or Fulham away - but for the way they play it will be so difficult and we have to be ready."

Guardiola made headlines after Saturday's FA Cup win over Chelsea when he used his media appearances to slam the decision