MANCHESTER -- Pep Guardiola joked that he's not sure how much his touchline antics affect his players ahead of the visit of Chelsea on Saturday.
The Manchester City manager will be in his dugout alongside Chelsea boss Antonio Conte for the top-of-the-table clash with both managers having a reputation for making flamboyant arm gestures to their players during matches.
Guardiola admitted that he can't always control his actions from the sideline because he is caught up in the match.
"I don't know who moves their arms quicker, him or Pep. Does it help the team? I don't think so. They don't hear you," Guardiola told a news conference.
"I'm not talking about Antonio, but I think I confuse them but I cannot control it. He will be stronger than me in that sense.
"I don't think it will help a lot to speak with the players, they play, not me. Sometimes you have to take decisions quickly, sometimes you are involved in the game.
"You want to help them to make it better, you want to see them, correct something, but you have 10 minutes at half-time. Okay you can correct something if the game stops.
"Hopefully in the future I can improve it -- be more relaxed and calm -- that would be good for me."
City have the chance to leapfrog over Premier League leaders with a win at the Etihad but he warned that Chelsea are serious challengers for the title.
With no European football at Stamford Bridge, City have played seven more games than Conte's side already this season, but Guardiola insists they cannot use it as an excuse for not competing for the title.
"When you play Champions League, it's so demanding, physically and mentally. That's why I'm so happy with what we did," he added.
"With one game to go we are already through. We'd prefer to be leading [the Premier League] but up to now I'm okay because we play in many competitions.
"If Chelsea or Liverpool [win the title] it will be because they were better than the others -- not just because they were not playing in Europe. It helps -- but it'll be because they deserve it."
Chelsea are the first of a series of big matches for City in December with games against champions Leicester City, Arsenal and Liverpool to come. Guardiola says it will be an important month for his side's title ambitions.
"This month is so important, until the end of the year," he said.
"I'm mostly thinking about what will be our level and if we will be able to fight until the last time. I'm curious about how we compete, how our football will be against these three, four really good teams.
"After that we're going to analyse, to keep going until the end. That is what I am concerned about most in this moment.
"I'm not just thinking about three points or draw or lose the game. I want to see how my team react against the good teams.
"Against Barcelona for example, in the Champions League, we were okay, we were there, we played good. I'm curious to see my team against top players and top teams."