Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City must avoid dropping points in their upcoming Premier League match against West Ham, insisting any setback could effectively end their pursuit of the title.
City currently occupy second place in the standings and trail leaders Arsenal by seven points, although Guardiola’s side still have one match in hand. With nine fixtures remaining for City and eight for Arsenal, the two teams will also face each other at Etihad Stadium on 19 April in what could prove to be a crucial encounter.
Despite the importance of that upcoming clash, Guardiola made it clear his focus remains solely on the next match. Speaking ahead of the weekend, the City manager described the Premier League as the toughest championship to win and stressed that his team must keep collecting victories to remain in contention.
West Ham fighting for survival
Manchester City’s opponents are also under pressure, but for different reasons. West Ham currently sit in the relegation zone, level on points with 17th-placed Nottingham Forest and separated only by goal difference.
Recent performances, however, suggest improvement for the Hammers. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team have been defeated just once in their last five Premier League matches as they attempt to climb out of the bottom three.
Guardiola acknowledged that West Ham’s position in the table will make them particularly motivated. According to the Spaniard, the final stage of the campaign always increases the intensity, as clubs battle for various objectives such as avoiding relegation or securing European qualification.
He also emphasised that, with the season entering its closing phase, there is little room for mistakes. In his view, the remaining matches leave teams with virtually no opportunity to recover dropped points.
Focus shifts from Madrid defeat
Guardiola also addressed the recent Champions League setback against Real Madrid but indicated he was not interested in dwelling on the defeat before the league fixture in London.
Manchester City were beaten 3-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie at the Bernabeu on Wednesday. The return match will take place on Tuesday, when City host the Spanish side in the second leg.
Reflecting on the situation, Guardiola said he was pleased that the club had reached this stage of the competition after failing to progress as far last season, when City was eliminated in the knockout playoff round.
The manager responds to criticism
Guardiola also defended his tactical approach and selection decisions for the match in Madrid, which had been criticised for being overly attacking.
Guardiola admitted that defeat often brings heavy scrutiny, noting that he has experienced criticism for his choices many times during his Champions League campaigns.
According to the 55-year-old coach, the difference in public reaction often depends on the result. When the team loses, decisions are questioned, but when the outcome is positive, the same choices are frequently praised.