Manchester City are just 90 minutes away from sporting immortality. A win over West Ham United will confirm their status as 2023/24 Premier League champions and secure a fourth consecutive top-flight title.
That’s a feat no side in the history of English football have achieved, while it would also mark a sixth first-place finish in seven years.
But despite West Ham’s indifference form and David Moyes’ awful record against City, Guardiola cautioned the champions against complacency.
“They were playing for the consequences of the result,” the former Barcelona boss said after the crucial win over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday. “When you play football thinking about the consequences that you are going to lose the Premier League, you can't perform at this level.
“But they are human beings and I can understand the pressure is there. It will be the same against West Ham.”
Unsurprisingly, Guardiola is expected to name his strongest team at the weekend, and he hasn’t changed his XI much in recent weeks. In fact, the last two Premier League line-ups have featured just one change from the previous teamsheet.
But City know they’ll have to make at least one alteration from the team that started at Spurs on Tuesday. Ederson collided with Cristian Romero in the second half of that 2-0 win and had to be replaced. It has since emerged that the City goalkeeper suffered a fractured eye socket and is subsequently set to miss the final two matches of the season.
It means Stefan Ortega will deputise in nets on Sunday and in next week’s FA Cup final against Manchester United. The German made a great save to maintain City’s lead and deny Heung-min Son on Wednesday night - a moment that will go down in club folklore.
Ortega has already played 18 times this season, so his inclusion won’t feel too out of the ordinary for City.
That might be the only change, and it’s likely to be a similar line-up against West Ham to the one that started at Spurs. Here’s the XI we think City will field this weekend…
1. GK: Stefan Ortega
With Ederson out, Ortega will almost certainly deputise in nets.
2. RB: Kyle Walker
Could become the fourth City captain to lift the Premier League trophy after Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan.
3. CB: Ruben Dias
Has started the last two and is expected to retain his place. John Stones and Nathan Ake are other options for Guardiola.
4. CB: Manuel Akanji
Has been excellent in recent weeks and a go-to for Guardiola.