Pep knows sometimes it's good not to talk!

PEP Guardiola had very little to say before sending his City players out to dismantle Arsenal this week although he did admit to having some doubts after the warm-ups

- JOE ERAY

In fact, the Blues boss says he's not had to give any motivational speeches in recent weeks as he repeated one of his regular comments that this period of the season is his favourite, when his side are fighting on multiple fronts and every game is a must-win.

With Guardiola letting momentum take hold, he's also allowed a number of his leadership group plus Scott Carson - to provide the motivation for him. While the manager wouldn't agree that his 'happy flowers' rant in January was a turning point, it's clearly had some impact as City have lost just once in the 20 games since.

"I didn't see one mood," the manager said about the comprehensive Arsenal win. "Do I have to motivate them against Arsenal playing for the Premier League? They know perfectly. Even the warm-up, I say to the coaches, 'how did they warm up?' Always I ask.

"They say yeah, so calm, relaxed. I said: 'In a good way or bad way?' They said they don't know. We see how they start the game. How they move. Sometimes if the warm-up is flat you have to leave them. Sometimes you have to talk a lot. It's a feeling. Arrive in the moment to be ready.

"Maybe they need in that moment to relax, they know exactly what they need to do, they don't need speeches."