Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about what his team need in the Premier League title race against Arsenal
Manchester City's manager Pep Guardiola blows kisses to the fans as City players celebrate after the English League Cup final football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium
Pep Guardiola
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Pep Guardiola warned Manchester City's title race could be over before they host Arsenal next week as he demanded a perfect run-in from the challengers. City could have been 12 points behind the leaders ahead of their game at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but Arsenal's defeat to Bournemouth means there is still a nine-point gap between the two sides, and Guardiola has called on his players to keep their 'illusion' alive by winning on Sunday.
The Blues lost precious ground in the title race last month with four points dropped in their two games with relegation strugglers Nottingham Forest and West Ham. However, they won the first trophy of the season by outclassing Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley and returned from the international break with a 4-0 thumping of Liverpool in the FA Cup, while the Gunners were stunned at Championship side Southampton.
Mikel Arteta's side claimed a late win at Sporting in the Champions League this week but their domestic struggles continued as they were beaten 2-1 by Bournemouth at the Emirates. Their defeats, coupled with City's surge, have raised the possibility of a late twist in the title race - especially because Arsenal still have to visit the Etihad next week.
Guardiola said that City are still dreaming of a fairytale end to their Premier League campaign but know that they are not in the position they want to be after recent setbacks. Unless they leave Stamford Bridge with three points on Sunday, they will have no chance of catching Arsenal.
"I'm not confessing something special for what we have to do to be until the last games of the season - Aston Villa or Brentford or Crystal Palace - to fight for the league. We are talking about Arsenal, but if we don't win at Stamford Bridge that isn't the easiest place to go maybe I don't need to make a press conference before Arsenal because it will be over," he said.
"Everybody knows it. You know it, I know it, the players know it, everyone in England knows it. However many games left, we have to win all of them. We can't drop one - forget about it. Nine points is a lot of points, against that Arsenal.
"But if we win [at Chelsea], and Arsenal at home, always you live the illusion and the wish is there to try to do it. But the reality, I'm not naive to say it's going to happen.
"West Ham and Nottingham, we played to win both games of course and it was in our hands and Arsenal had to come here but it is what it is. It's fair enough.
"I always said the Premier League is the most difficult competition, for me the most prestigious, because it's 11 months, 38 fixtures and many, many things. That's why I give a lot of credit, when we won or when the opponents won titles."