Pep Guardiola said there is no way Manchester City will be taking Chelsea lightly when the two sides meet in a Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
City and Chelsea have been English football's two most successful clubs over the past 10 seasons; City have won six league titles in that time and Chelsea two, while the London side have also lifted the FA Cup, League Cup, Europa League, Champions League, and Fifa Club World Cup trophies.
City have captured an additional nine major trophies in the last decade, including six League Cups, two FA Cups, and last season's Champions League as part of their historic treble season.
However, the two heavyweights have been in vastly different positions recently. City sit top of the league table as they aim to win a fourth straight title, while Chelsea continue their rebuild under Mauricio Pochettino and lie in 10th having placed 12th last season in their worst league finish in almost 30 years.
Despite the current gulf between City and Chelsea, Guardiola insisted the Blues are one of the strongest teams in the division and he is wary of the threat they will pose at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
"Chelsea remain one of the most important teams in England," he said. "They won the Champions League under [Thomas] Tuchel against us [in 2021]. It's true they were not close to winning the Premier League in these seasons but they are one of the strongest teams, no doubt.
"I've seen the last games. They are alive, they have a good spirit, they're aggressive and have good patterns. The quality is there. It's one of the toughest games we have during the season.
"At the same time we will go there optimistic. We have to try to maintain the level of our game but sooner or later Chelsea will be there fighting for titles, no doubt about that."
Chelsea enter Sunday's game following Monday's chaotic 4-1 win over nine-man Tottenham Hotspur – only their fourth win in 11 league games, but a morale-boosting victory nonetheless.
While the win over his former club provided a much-needed three points, Pochettino is aware that Chelsea will face what he described as the "best team in the world". That said, the Argentine insisted Chelsea should never have an underdog mentality given the club's recent history of success.
"For me [City] are the best team, have the best coaching staff and the best manager," Pochettino said. "We need to tell the truth – it is one of the best organisations in the world.
"When you have the results you are showing it's because from the top to the bottom you are doing things really, really well.
"Chelsea never have that feeling of being an underdog," he added. "The feeling is always 'you are Chelsea'. It is impossible, the history is there. But I think we cannot go and say 'we are the big team of the day' on Sunday.
"We need to go there trying to be protagonists, with our personality, with our character."
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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