Pep Guardiola says Manchester City need to win all of their remaining four matches if they are to be 2023/24 Premier League champions.
Man City moved back to a point behind leaders Arsenal on Sunday with a 2-0 victory at Nottingham Forest, leaving them in control of the title race because of their match in hand over the Gunners.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Man City
MCI
|
38 | +62 | 91 |
| 2 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
38 | +62 | 89 |
| 3 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
38 | +45 | 82 |
Guardiola thinks Arsenal will beat AFC Bournemouth, Manchester United and Everton, meaning Man City must take all 12 points in their remaining fixtures in order to become the first team in Premier League history to win four consecutive titles.
"We've extended one more week that it's in our hands. It's all we can do," Guardiola said.
"It's similar to what's happened in the past with [title races] with Liverpool. If we draw a game, we're not going to win the Premier League.
"I would have preferred Arsenal to lose [at Spurs on Sunday] but we cannot control what they do. I think they're not going to lose any points. We know exactly what we need to do."
Haaland: This is why I play football
Man City's title hopes have been boosted by Erling Haaland, the leader in the race for this season's Castrol Golden Boot, returning from injury on Sunday.
Haaland came off the bench to score his 21st goal of the campaign, and says he lives for pressure moments like these.
"It's nice. It's exactly like last season and this is maybe the most exciting time to be a footballer," Haaland said.
"This is why I play football. This feeling before a game, you're nervous, it's fantastic. I love football exactly for these feelings."
As to whether he is fit enough to start Man City's next match, at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, Haaland said: "I'm ready [to start]. I had a bit of a problem. It's been a scratching feeling inside me to get back and I feel good. I'm ready to attack the last four finals."