Pep Guardiola outlines specific Leeds United difficulty impacting Manchester City preparations

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has discussed the challenge posed by Leeds United appointing Sam Allardyce prior to Saturday’s Premier League clash.

Pep Guardiola’s side face Leeds United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with the Sky Blues looking to move four points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.

City face a relegation-threatened Leeds, as the Yorkshire club took the drastic measure of sacking Javi Gracia and bringing in Sam Allardyce for the final weeks of the campaign.

Leeds are currently out of the relegation zone on goal difference and have four matches remaining, as they seek to secure top-flight survival.

Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham await Allardyce’s side after Saturday’s match at the Etihad Stadium, with Leeds winless since the start of April.

The former England manager, who has previously taken charge of clubs including Crystal Palace, Everton and Newcastle, returns to the dugouts after leaving West Brom in 2021.

According to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, the appointment of Allardyce poses a unique tactical challenge to the Premier League leaders.

“When you don’t have info(information) on the opponent, we can’t focus much on them and focus on ourselves; analyse what’s in our game to help us in the next one,” revealed Guardiola.

“Always the impact a new manager has on the players in the first one, two games, every team is playing for important things but Leeds (have) to stay here.

“I don’t know the system they’re going to play, we have to adapt in the first 10, 15 minutes. It’s a massive, important game for us.”

Manchester City are currently on a 19-match unbeaten streak in all competitions and know that four wins from their final five matches will guarantee a third successive Premier League title.

The Blues also resume their pursuit of the treble next week, facing Real Madrid in the first-leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final tie on Tuesday.