Pep Guardiola wants Man City squad to prioritise Premier League title over Champions League

Pep Guardiola doesn't feel the need to tell his players to focus on their clash with Everton on Sunday, despite the Champions League semi-final second leg with Real Madrid looming next week.

City brought back a 1-1 draw from the first leg in Madrid this week, but must park any Champions League ambitions until after they face Everton at Goodison Park for three crucial points in the Premier League title race that will keep them ahead of Arsenal for another week.

And Guardiola insisted that the Premier League remains City's number one priority, with his players also on the same page ahead of the two big fixtures this week.

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"The players are so humble and respectful to the opponents, they know exactly how difficult is Everton, they live it and know it before," Guardiola said.

"I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm convinced they will be incredibly focussed at Goodison Park. The Premier League is so important title. I know the highlights of the Champions League is so special, but [the Premier League is] many months, many tough games, incredible effort. The effort for the mindset in the right place where you have to be."

Guardiola had expressed his disappointment that the Everton game was scheduled for Sunday, as the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool on Saturday meant that the fixture couldn't be held in the city on the same day. However, the manager did accept that City have enough time to prepare to face Madrid, with a relatively easy journey home on Sunday evening.

He said: "After three days, it's enough time to prepare for Real Madrid with our people, our fans, we try to do our best again and reach a final. Everton and