Pep Guardiola admits that the Premier League title race is over if Man City lose to Arsenal this weekend.
The top two teams in the division meet at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday for a potentially season-defining clash.
Six points separate City from the leaders with six weeks of the campaign remaining, but they can go level by beating the Gunners and following it up with victory over Burnley in midweek.
Arsenal can extend their lead to nine points with a win, however, and Guardiola recognises that such a gap would be too big for them to close.
Guardiola admits title race is ‘over’ if Arsenal beat Man City
“Yes, obviously. If we lose, it is over,” the City boss said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“The other two results, knowing that Arsenal didn’t beat Bournemouth – we still have games to play. Six games is a lot and especially in our calendar. Everton away, Bournemouth away, Aston Villa the last game at home. Crystal Palace and Brentford. There are still many things to do.”
Guardiola also admitted that he thought the title was out of reach for City following consecutive draws with Nottingham Forest and West Ham United in March, but insisted that the race is never over until it’s over.
“I had the feeling in January when we played Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton. These three games we were outstanding and didn’t win once. That moment, I said we had a missed the chance after that, because of other results.
“The points in this season are much, much lower comparing the seasons with Jurgen [Klopp] at Liverpool. Maybe because we are both not good or maybe because the contenders are better. That is always a question mark. But after the games against Nottingham Forest and West Ham, I thought we had ran away. But, it is never over until it’s over and we are still here.”
When asked if winning the title this season would be his greatest achievement, Guardiola replied: “No. The greatest we have done.
“For many new players it is good to be in that position, to learn for the future and for the next seasons. To be there especially after many years and many titles and still being in the title race a little bit is good but it is not our greatest achievement.”
