Title race not over, insists Man City boss Guardiola
Pep Guardiola maintained that the Premier League title contest remains alive, even following a costly 1-1 tie against West Ham which positioned Manchester City nine points behind table-toppers Arsenal on Saturday.
Manchester City let slip their advantage, secured by Bernardo Silva in the opening half at the London Stadium, with Konstantinos Mavropanos nodding home West Hams leveller ahead of the break.
Merely hours after Arsenal netted twice in the dying stages to secure a 2-0 win versus Everton, Guardiola's squad failed to mount a comeback.
City, sitting second, possess an extra fixture compared to Arsenal and will welcome the frontrunners in April, yet with only eight outings remaining for the faltering contenders, numerous experts have dismissed their chances.
Nevertheless, Guardiola stays resolute, asserting that City refuse to surrender.
"Its not finished. Who claimed otherwise? We havent been defeated. We shall persist," he stated.
"A nine-point gap versus Arsenal is substantial, but it has occurred. We face them at our ground, so we must push right to the conclusion.
"If it proves impossible, we shall applaud the victors, but we need to give it our all."
The sole instance of a Premier League champion overcoming a deficit of at least nine points to the leaders after 30 or more matches was Manchester City in the 2013-14 campaign.
However, City currently lack sharpness, having drawn their most recent two league encounters with relegation candidates West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
City suffered a harsh 3-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 opening leg during the week.
They entertain the Spanish outfit in the return fixture next week, prior to the League Cup final against Arsenal and a clash with Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
"We boast a remarkable squad, with strong resolve. We exerted tremendous endeavour in Madrid. Over the past two matches, we performed far superior," Guardiola remarked.
"We are a superb team. We deliver excellent play. The players push relentlessly until exhaustion. Yet we failed to convert sufficiently when chances arose, and opponents capitalised."
Weve been punished
Arsenal, who finished as runners-up in the previous three seasons, squandered significant advantages that enabled City to claim the title in 2023 and 2024.
Despite his positive outlook, Guardiola recognises the immense challenge of reeling in the Gunners this term.
"Its immensely tough, yet we hold an additional match, including the home encounter with Arsenal. Im not suggesting victory will come easily, but opportunity exists. You must always remain in contention," he added.
"I cannot assess their recent displays as I havent viewed them, but certain aspects appeal to me. Improvements could occur, but this is the reality."
City forward Erling Haaland underperformed yet again, managing merely three goals across his previous 12 league appearances.
Guardiola conceded that the teams insufficient penetration has played a major role in their inconsistent results.
"We havent netted enough. This has befallen our side countless times over the past ten years, though this campaign we have faltered," he noted.
"We lacked serious danger, and that displeases me. You require flair in the attacking zone from your personnel.
"Securing the Premier League demands greater reliability. Previously, we maintained the steadiness to triumph repeatedly, always discovering solutions.
"This term, failing to score amid the opportunities generated, we have faced consequences."