“Pep Guardiola focuses on overcoming mental fatigue ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Sheffield United”

After being knocked out four times in a row before the FA Cup final, Pep Guardiola is hoping Manchester City’s players can shake off their mental fatigue amid a hectic schedule ahead of Saturday’s clash with Sheffield United.

City is chasing a new title in its struggle on multiple fronts this season, as it reached the Champions League semi-finals after beating Bayern Munich 4-1 on aggregate on Wednesday.

He is also in fierce competition with Arsenal in the Premier League, and will face him next Wednesday in a summit that may decide the title.

But Guardiola focuses first on facing Sheffield, which is close to returning to the Premier League next season.

The Spanish coach informed reporters on Friday: We hope to succeed, last season we reached the same point, and three times in the last four years and our level was not good, and the reason is exhaustion.

He added: We must succeed this time, the quarter-finals in the Champions League was difficult and we must recover, every season I feel that we are not ready, I hope we are ready this time.

City lost to Liverpool in the semi-finals of the last edition, and Sheffield appears to be an easier option, although it ousted Brighton and Manchester United, but Guardiola does not agree with this belief.

He continued: I watched Sheffield yesterday after returning from Munich, it is one or two games away from qualifying for the Premier League, it will be a very difficult match.

“Sheffield has great ability, good set-pieces and ferociousness.”

City will lose defender Nathan Ake, who suffered a hamstring injury during the 1-1 draw with Bayern in the second leg, while Phil Foden is preparing to start after returning to the bench in Munich.

City is in the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the sixth time in seven seasons, but has not won the title since crushing Watford 6-0 in 2019.

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