Guardiola says title fight will 'obviously' be over if Man City lose to Arsenal
Manchester City are six points behind Arsenal yet possess an extra match to play, meaning a win would narrow the difference and intensify the pressure during this critical period of the competition.
Nevertheless, Guardiola indicated that there is minimal margin for mistakes, recognising that failing to secure all three points would position his squad with a daunting task ahead.
"Yes, obviously," the Spanish coach remarked regarding viewing the match as a decisive encounter. "If we lose, it is over."
"We are ready"
In spite of the tight circumstances, Guardiola expressed that Manchester City feel assured, emphasising how vital self-belief becomes towards the end of the campaign.
"If you could purchase confidence from a shop, we would grab it right away. It ranks among the key elements," he shared during a media briefing. "(Our confidence) is solid. We are ready."
"A month back, after we let slip points in key instances, I figured we might not reach this point. (However) we reviewed the schedule and thought, 'Alright, we face Arsenal at our ground for an opportunity. It amounts to six points. Not a tiny gap, yet we stand a chance to close it.'
"That describes our current position. It hinges on how we perform, and the outcome will unfold on Sunday. Our supporters have filled the stadium. Conditions are ideal for the fixture."
Guardiola confirmed that Nico O'Reilly, who netted a brace in Manchester City's 2-0 triumph against Arsenal in the League Cup final, has recovered from an issue with his left hamstring that forced him off during the previous match at Chelsea.
That exciting success formed part of a strong sequence for City, featuring a 4-0 demolition of Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals. They remain unbeaten in league action since the middle of January.
Manchester City's performances have started to create concern within the Arsenal supporter base.
"If we replicate the second half (from the League Cup final) for the full 95 minutes and they do the same, we should prevail. Though, perhaps not, given football's uncertain nature," Guardiola noted.
"I understand (Arsenal's coach) Mikel (Arteta). They will tweak their approach, so we must ready ourselves accordingly. Ultimately, it boils down to individuals outduelling their direct opponents."
Not underdogs
Guardiola stressed that Manchester City still require improvement to maintain their bid for the championship in the remaining fixtures.
"We must elevate our game further," he stated. "The opening period versus Chelsea (a 3-0 success on Sunday) was decent but not exceptional. The initial 30 minutes against Liverpool were subpar too. In the first 30 minutes of the Arsenal final, they held the edge.
"You cannot expect such teams to deliver perfection for 90 or 95 minutes, but this element transcends time, focusing on confidence, which proves remarkably powerful."
When questioned about being underdogs, Guardiola dismissed the notion. "I grasp what you mean, but perhaps we are not," he responded. "They have excelled up to now, but we aim to contest that.
"I told the team today that it is merely a football match, and we should treat it as such. Allowing emotions to distract leads to losing concentration."
Guardiola mentioned that Manchester City take pride in continuing to vie across various competitions, although the Sunday outcome might determine much.
"We will observe the result," he commented. "Yet it is never concluded until the end, and we persist. I feel proud that we remain in the mix challenging them."