Watford vs Man City: Pep Guardiola on how Nigel Pearson sacking affects preparation for Premier League fixture

Spaniard’s side travel to Vicarage Road on Tuesday evening

Pep Guardiola has weighed in on the sacking of Nigel Pearson by Watford ahead of his Manchester City side’s Premier League game against the Hornets on Tuesday.

Head coach Pearson’s dismissal by Watford on Sunday came as a major surprise, given the club only have two games remaining in the season to preserve their top-flight status.

Pearson joined the Hornets in December with the club bottom of the league and he leaves Vicarage Road having lifted the team to 17th – three points above the relegation zone. He is the third manager Watford have sacked this season, following the firings of Javi Gracia and Quique Sanches Flores – the latter’s dismissal marking his second by the club.

Watford’s remaining Premier League fixtures this term are difficult ones, with Tuesday’s clash against City followed by a trip to Arsenal. Hayden Mullins has been made caretaker manager for those games.

“It makes my job easier,” Guardiola joked when asked how Pearson’s sacking affected City’s preparation for Tuesday’s match.

“I don’t have to watch any Watford games, because we don’t know how they are going to play.

“The players will have to find solutions for themselves.”

City are guaranteed a second-place finish in the league this term after Liverpool were crowned champions last month.

Guardiola’s side were beaten in the FA Cup semi-finals by Arsenal on Saturday, and – having already won the League Cup earlier this year – their remaining shot at another trophy this season is in the Champions League.

City host La Liga champions Real Madrid on 7 August, having beaten the Spanish club 2-1 at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their last-16 tie in February.