Guardiola: Leicester and Chelsea have ‘more chances’ to win the title than Man City

Pep Guardiola has claimed that both Chelsea and Leicester City – plus Liverpool – have a greater chance of winning the Premier League title than his Manchester City side.
The Citizens were inflicted a devastating blow to their title defence on Sunday as Liverpool smashed the reigning champions 3-1 at Anfield.
Have Liverpool ended Man City’s title hopes? Five things to know…
- Liverpool thrashed Man City 3-1 in the Premier League at Anfield on Sunday.
- Goals from Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane secured three points for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
- That victory has kept Man City in fourth, behind both Chelsea and Leicester City.
- They are now nine points adrift of Liverpool, who are unbeaten in 29 Premier League games.
- Guardiola believes Chelsea and Leicester now have a greater chance of usurping the Reds than his side.
The result on Merseyside has put Liverpool eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table, while simultaneously leaving Man City languishing in fourth, below both Chelsea and Leicester.
Guardiola cut a frustrated figure in the Anfield dugout as Jurgen Klopp’s men ran amok, and he appeared to take that solemn mood to the press room after the match.
“There are three teams in front that have more chances to be champions but we are going to try,” Guardiola explained.
“In football you cannot always win. I am so proud to see my team playing in this stadium in this way.”
When asked whether Man City can still win the title, he responded: “I don’t know.
“I am not a magician I don’t know the future. Chelsea at home next, we will try to beat them.”
Guardiola was also quizzed on whether his post-match applause to the officials was sarcastic: “No way. I congratulate them.”
Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel here.
Guardiola proud of defending champions
Despite the 3-1 defeat, Guardiola refused to criticise his players, instead offering a glowing appraisal of his side’s performance, believing Man City took to the field “like back-to-back champions”.
“What happened today we showed why we are champions, I am so proud of my team, more than ever,” he said.
“We can be proud of how we played against the strongest team in Europe.
34 – Liverpool
26 – Leicester
26 – Chelsea
25 – Man CityBrendan Rodgers and Frank Lampard finish this gameweek ahead of Pep Guardiola. pic.twitter.com/EnOAleBQoa
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 10, 2019
“We played like back-to-back champions. We cannot deny how good Liverpool are but the way we played, the personality, it was good.
“It was quite similar to the Champions League game. It was an incredible situations in that game too but the performance today was so good.
“Always we try, never give up that is why we are back-to-back champions. Always fight until the end.”