This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. Pep Guardiola did not dwell on controversies regarding Arsenal's so-called "dark arts"—pointing to how the Gunners utilize corner kick moments—and preferred to downplay the topic in the lead-up to the English League Cup final, even reflecting more broadly on the current state of the world. "How many times have you heard me use that concept about Arsenal? When someone does something like that, there are referees. Coaches can do whatever they want, and the referees have to stop it. Look at what is happening in the world. We are in the midst of chaos and no one is doing anything. The world could collapse and we are here talking about whether a team uses dark arts. There are more important things." Focused on the Wembley game, the Manchester City manager emphasized the importance of competing in another final, especially for players in the Citizens' squad who have yet to win titles with the club: "Of course it is important. It was the first title in our time here. But then we need to see what happens next. You can win a title and then disappear. The goal is to win every three days for a long time." Regarding the impact a potential victory could have on the Premier League title race, he was cautious: "I don't know. Of course it helps, but we can win the title and then things go wrong in the league. Or the other way around. With so little recovery time, we have to know how to forget and move on, in good times and bad." Finally, he commented on the Confederation of African Football's decision to strip Senegal of the AFCON title and award it to Morocco: "It's a surprise. I don't have a concrete opinion because I don't know the reasons, but it seems it was decided behind the scenes. This happens everywhere. What we see is not what is really going on…"
Pep Guardiola Arsenal remains central to this story.
Pep Guardiola Arsenal remains central to this story.
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