Football News

Pep Guardiola admits Man City could have “lost the Premier League” against Spurs

By William Eldridge

Published: 19:42, 20 April 2019

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted his side could have conceded the Premier League title had they lost to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon.

An early goal from talented youngster Phil Foden was enough for the Citizens to claim a vital 1-0 victory over Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

How close is the Premier League title race? Five things you need to know…

  1. Manchester City’s victory over Tottenham pushed them back to the top of the Premier League table, one point above Liverpool.
  2. Both sides have played the same amount of games (34) but the Reds play next, away to Cardiff City on Sunday afternoon.
  3. Reigning champions City would be the first side since Manchester United (2009) to win the Premier League in successive seasons.
  4. Liverpool are hunting their first Premier League title in 29 years.
  5. City have won their last 10 Premier League games.

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Speaking to reporters after his side’s close battle against Champions League semi-finalists Tottenham Hotspur, Guardiola couldn’t stress enough how critical it was for his side to secure all three points on Saturday.

“[It was] important for the race for the Premier League,” Guardiola said.

“We know we cannot drop points. It was tight, they had more chances than the previous two games. After defeat on Wednesday [against Tottenham in the Champions League] the last two days were tough.

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“We came back with this sunshine, the effort of the players was incredible.

“Twenty-four months doing that, when you have 100 points and 86 now… after what we have done last season, being in the final of the FA Cup, the team was incredible this season and that’s why they don’t have to show me their character.

“They [Tottenham] don’t lose anything, we lose the Premier League today [if City lost].”

Yet again, the pressure’s on Liverpool…

City’s rise to the top of the Premier League isn’t anything new, with Guardiola’s men changing places with Jurgen Klopp’s squad many, many times this campaign.

The Citizens and the Reds have been almost neck and neck for the majority of the season and have each passed various tests to ensure they keep the pace with the other.

This time it is on Liverpool to pull a result out of the bag. They travel to Wales to face Neil Warnock’s Cardiff City who will be full of confidence following their key 2-0 victory away to relegation rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Welsh side will provide a stern test for Liverpool with both sides needing points for contrasting reasons.