Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes the Premier League title is ‘still in our hands’ ahead of a crucial crunch match against leaders Arsenal.
The Citizens head to north London on Wednesday night to face league leaders Arsenal, with victory against the Gunners ensuring the current title holders return to Manchester on top of the Premier League once again.
Guardiola is adamant his side are as motivated as ever to claim a third consecutive title, even if at the expense of his protege Arteta.
“The biggest motivation is we don’t want to drop the Premier League,” Guardiola said. “If they beat us because they were better, then that is sport, I will be the first to congratulate them.
“It’s still in our hands and we defend it until the last day. This is what I’d like to do, fight. If it doesn’t happen, it’s because the other one was better.
“It’s another trick to find the fire inside us. If we didn’t have that we wouldn’t be second, we would be far far away. But we’re still here.”
City have not been up to their usual intrinsic best this season, with the gap between them and Arsenal being as high as eight points at one point. Now, with the gap between the top two cut down to only three, there is a growing belief that a third consecutive Premier League title is on its way to the Etihad.
Guardiola believes the belief was always there for his team, but with Arsenal coming into this match on the back of two disappointing results is wary of the increased dangers his side will face at the Emirates.
“This team is not used to dropping points, so whenever they drop, the next game is something special.
“Watching their last two games, I don’t think they dropped points because of the way they’re playing.
“Arsenal have reached the level that when you’re a good team, the opponents adapt to who you are, when you arrive at that level it’s because you’re a good team.”
