Pep Guardiola has declared that there is “no chance” of Manchester City winning the Premier League this season, despite their 2-0 victory over Leicester City on Sunday.
It was only their second win in 14 matches across all competitions. Despite the triumph, City remain fifth in the league, 14 points behind leaders Liverpool.
In a late Sunday statement on the Premier League website, titled “‘No chance’ – Guardiola rules Man City out of title race,” the Catalan manager admitted the title race was effectively over for his side.
“Hopefully, the new year can help us bounce back,” Guardiola said after the match. “It’s not enjoyable right now, it’s just relief. We’ve achieved incredible things over the years, but this is not our best moment.”
In a more direct interview with BBC Match of the Day, Guardiola added, “We’re far away from winning the Premier League. We accept there’s no chance of that, but we have other things to fight for – like the FA Cup, a top-four finish, and continuing to win games.”
With the January transfer window opening on Wednesday, Guardiola suggested reinforcements could be on the way to address his squad’s injury crisis.
“We need help in some positions,” he said. “When everyone is fit, we’re the team we’ve always been, but with key players out for weeks and months, it’s been difficult. Central defenders and holding midfielders are areas where we need support.”
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Guardiola, however, acknowledged that the transfer market is tough and expensive, leaving it uncertain how much the club can do to bolster the squad.
Despite the struggles, Sunday’s win marked a personal milestone for Guardiola, as it was his 500th match as Manchester City manager. Reflecting on the achievement, he said, “I’m so proud. I would cry now. It’s incredible to be part of this club, and to celebrate 500 matches with a victory is special.”
Guardiola’s tenure at City remains historic. Since joining in 2016, City have won six of the last eight Premier League titles, including four in a row last season. They also completed a Treble in the 2022/23 season, a feat not seen since Manchester United’s 1999 triumph.
Under Guardiola, City have accumulated 45 more points and scored 83 more goals than any other Premier League team. He is the first manager to reach 500 Premier League matches since David Moyes with Everton in 2013, and is the longest-serving active manager in the league.
Only Sir Alex Ferguson’s 13 Premier League titles surpass Guardiola’s six, though with more milestones ahead, the Spaniard’s legacy at City is far from complete.
Crediblenewsng.com
