Pep Guardiola has warned Manchester City fans not to expect perfection, admitting his side will drop more points in the Premier League title race despite closing the gap on Arsenal.
Guardiola Makes Arsenal Title Race Admission After Vital Newcastle Win
The reigning champions secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
Nico O’Reilly bagged a brace for the hosts, either side of a Lewis Hall equalizer, to ensure City kept the pressure on the league leaders.
The win moves Guardiola’s men to within just two points of Arsenal, who face Tottenham in the North London Derby on Sunday.
With City now on a three-game winning streak and Arsenal managing only two wins in their last seven, momentum appears to be shifting.
However, the City boss remains cautious. Despite the victory, he insists his team will not win every single one of their remaining 11 fixtures.
“Today it looks good, we take two more points off Aston Villa and Chelsea in the race for the Champions League, and now we are closer to the top,” Guardiola said.
“That is an incredibly good sign. But I promise you many things are going to happen. I have the feeling we are not going to win all the games.
I don’t know about Arsenal, but I have the feeling we’re not going to win every game.”
Guardiola pointed to a congested fixture list as a major factor, with the FA Cup and Champions League clashes piling up alongside domestic duties.
“We have the FA Cup, the Champions League, travels,” he explained.
“Injuries are going to come, many things are going to happen. The best way is to relax now and focus on Leeds. In the end, it depends on our level and how we play.”
Reflecting on the narrow win over Newcastle, the manager admitted the performance was far from flawless but praised his team’s resilience.
“Was it a perfect game? No. Is it an ideal game? No,” Guardiola admitted.
“But we were a team, the way you need to be at this stage of the season against sides like Newcastle. That is what we have to do.”
