Pep Guardiola hailed a “great” victory after title-chasing Manchester City held on for a crucial but nervy victory over Newcastle on Saturday.
Nico O’Reilly scored twice as City beat the Magpies 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium to reduce Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League to two points.
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Manager Guardiola now wants his players to concentrate on their next game, at Leeds next Saturday, without being distracted by the bigger picture of the title.
The City manager said: “It was huge. Newcastle are an incredible team.”
“That game today is the one we are going to face in the next 11. Every game will be like that, a battle.
“Now we have three days off. I tell them ‘what you have to do is drink a lot of caipirinhas and daiquiris in these next three days, enjoy life’, and then we do the right sessions and go to Leeds.
“That’s the right way. If we say ‘we win this, then Arsenal do this or Aston Villa’… [you get a] slap in the face and what you thought [would happen]the opposite happens.
“I know how difficult it will be. Just win the next game, keep going, never give up. Ten games is a lot in the Premier League. A lot of things are going to happen.”
Buoyed by Arsenal’s unexpected draw against Wolves in midweek, the match began in a raucous atmosphere.
The atmosphere was more anxious at the end as Newcastle pressed later, but Guardiola felt the crowd helped City get the three points.
“The vibe and connection with our fans today was the best of the season,” he said. “We have five [home] “There are games left in the Premier League and we need that vibe.”
O’Reilly’s brace came either side of Lewis Hall’s deflected equaliser, rewarding City for a strong first-half performance.
“The win was the most important thing,” O’Reilly said. “Try to close the gap and apply as much pressure as possible, but [I’m] Also very happy with the two goals.
“There are many games left, we just have to face each game as it comes.”
PA and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
