Manchester City face a huge clash on their return to Premier League action with a home derby tie against Manchester United.
On the back of a mixed start to the new campaign, with two defeats from three games, Pep Guardiola is seeking a reaction from his squad at the Etihad Stadium.
August defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion have caused concern for Guardiola with United crossing Manchester on the back of picking up four points last month.
Guardiola was eager to take the sting out of a tense derby showdown with the Catalan coach concerned by bigger challenges ahead this season.
"I’m happy to finish as champion of the Premier League. That's what I like. And to do it, you have to beat United," he said ahead of the game.
"Sometimes we don’t win [against United] and we've gone on to win the title. Honestly I don’t have much personal rivalry against United).
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"Of course it’s important because it's special, but you have to be focused on what we have to do."
Pep Guardiola's Premier League record v Man United
Guardiola is yet to win a Premier League derby against Ruben Amorim after losing 2-1 at home last season and drawing 0-0 at Old Trafford.
Across 18 games against United as City boss since the start of the 2016/17 campaign, Guardiola has won nine matches, drawn three and lost six.
City have won three of their last four home battles with the Red Devils with one FA Cup final win each.
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