Title bid ‘over’ if Man City lose to West Ham, says Guardiola
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) — Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge “will be over” if they fail to beat resurgent West Ham on Saturday.
City could kick off at the London Stadium 10 points behind leaders Arsenal should the Gunners beat Everton earlier in the day.
Guardiola’s men have a game in hand on the Gunners and home advantage when the sides meet next month.
But they must bounce back from the disappointment of a 3-0 Champions League drubbing at the hands of Real Madrid on Wednesday that means their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals are slim.
“The league was the most difficult title,” Guardiola said Friday. “So the Premier League always, I believe, is the most difficult one, and still we are there, knowing that if we drop points, it’ll be over.”
The City boss has won six Premier League titles in his nine previous seasons in England.
But his team were well off the pace last season, finishing 13 points behind champions Liverpool, in third spot.
“Now it is a pleasure to be here. Last season we could not live that in this stage, so it’s nice,” said Guardiola.
“Always I said when I arrived in the last 10 games every team plays for something — for relegation, for Europa League, for Conference League, for Champions League, to be champions.
“So it’s normal. Now it is no second chances.”
West Ham remain in the relegation zone, but have lost just two of their past 11 games in all competitions to climb to within one point of safety and reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.
