Pep Guardiola: Title contest ‘finished’ if Man City fails to defeat West Ham
Pep Guardiola acknowledges that Manchester City may not have “many dollars in the bank” to stage a comeback against Real Madrid, but emphasizes that his immediate focus is on a crucial match against West Ham, where failing to secure points could jeopardize his team’s title ambitions.
City’s aspirations for advancement in the Champions League suffered a significant setback midweek as they faced a 3-0 defeat at the Bernabéu.
They will attempt to reverse the scoreline at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, but first need to redirect their attention to the Premier League title race, facing the relegation-threatened Hammers on Saturday.
Guardiola’s squad has little time to reflect on the events in Spain, as they cannot afford to lose additional points in their contest with Arsenal, from whom they are seven points behind.
The City manager stated at his pre-match press conference: “Tomorrow night we have a game, an important one for the Premier League standings. Then we have the second leg.
“We are accustomed to these situations, right? For many years we’ve experienced these kinds of scenarios.
“Now it’s West Ham, and afterward, we will have time to consider it. Play the match you need to play, and the outcome will determine if you have a chance or not.
“We don’t have many dollars in the bank, but we will see on Tuesday. Right now, it’s West Ham. The Premier League is the most challenging title. We’re still in contention, knowing that if we drop points, it will be over.”
City’s challenge could be made more difficult by West Ham’s predicament, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s relegation-threatened team fights for points at the opposite end of the standings.
Guardiola remarked: “We are desperate too.
“I’ve always said that when we reach the final 10 games, every team is playing for something — for relegation, for Europa League, for Conference League, for Champions League, or to be champions. It’s normal; every match matters.
“Now there are no second chances.”
The upcoming week is significant for City, with the West Ham match and the return fixture against Madrid, followed by the Carabao Cup final.
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“It’s a pleasure to be here,” Guardiola expressed. “Last season we couldn’t experience this at this stage. It’s nice.”
Guardiola has faced criticism for his team selection against Real after his squad was undone by a Federico Valverde hat trick.
City had been viewed as favorites for the last 16 tie due to the Spanish side’s inconsistent performance in LaLiga and their extensive injury list.
Guardiola commented: “This is not the first time I’ve been hurt. I’ve faced many defeats in the Champions League at various stages — many, many, many times and have been criticized for decisions and what transpired.
“So it’s not the first instance, but at the same time, I’m still in this position. And until the last day, I will defend my choices regarding team selection.
“I will not persuade you because we lost, as it’s [the same] arguments as before.”
