Pep Guardiola has warned that Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge “will be over” if they fail to secure a win against resurgent West Ham United on Saturday.
City could find themselves 10 points behind leaders Arsenal if the Gunners beat Everton earlier in the day, despite having a game in hand and home advantage when the sides meet next month.
Guardiola’s team are also recovering from a 3-0 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday, a result that leaves their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals 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 acknowledged last season was disappointing, with his team finishing 13 points behind champions Liverpool in third place.
“Now it is a pleasure to be here. Last season we could not live that in this stage, so it’s nice,” Guardiola added. “Always I said when I arrived in the last 10 games every team plays for soing — 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, climbing to within one point of safety and reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The upcoming clash at the London Stadium will be crucial for City if they are to maintain realistic hopes of winning the Premier League this season, with Guardiola urging his players to deliver under pressure.
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