Pep Guardiola says English Premier League title race not over despite Manchester City’s latest setback

LONDON – Pep Guardiola insisted Manchester City’s title hopes are “not over”, even after he claimed on March 13 that anything other than victory over West Ham United would end their bid to win the English Premier League.

The Spaniard’s side arrived at the London Stadium on March 14 after league leaders Arsenal extended their lead to 10 points following a 2-0 triumph over Everton. He watched on from the stands due to a touchline ban as his side dropped points again in a 1-1 draw on March 14.

City, for all their possession and passing, could only score once against a West Ham side fighting for Premier League survival.

Bernardo Silva put the visitors ahead in the 31st minute with a fortunate chip over goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, before Konstantinos Mavropanos headed home Jarrod Bowen’s corner four minutes later.

The result leaves City nine points off Arsenal, though with a game in hand and a potentially key clash against the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium in April.

Guardiola himself had suggested the title race could be over if City dropped points against West Ham, but when that was put to him, he asked: “Who said?”

When he was reminded he had said it, the 55-year-old told TNT Sports: “No, it’s not over, because we did not lose.

“Nine points is a lot but we have to play (Arsenal) at home. When it is not possible, we congratulate the champions, but we fight until the end.”

The only team to win a Premier League title after ending a match at least nine points behind the leaders having played 30 or more games were City in 2013-14.

But Guardiola accepted that their lack of cutting edge was what cost them again this season.

“They did everything, they fought, 24 shots, I don’t know how many,” Guardiola told reporters. “We had to be better in the final third, we didn’t do it and that’s all.”

City have lost only once in their last 18 league games but have dropped 10 points from winning positions in that run, including two in their previous match as they were held 2-2 by struggling Nottingham Forest. Striker Erling Haaland has now scored just four goals in his last 18 appearances in all competitions.

Arsenal have finished as runners-up for three seasons in a row – the first two times to a City side that seemed to be able to find a way to win, especially in the run-in.

“The consistency that we had in the past, this season we didn’t get it,” Guardiola conceded.

West Ham remain in 18th, level on 29 points with Forest but behind them on goal difference, with eight games left to play.

Chelsea, meanwhile, gave up ground in the chase for a top-four finish after a 1-0 loss at home to Newcastle United. The Magpies won at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 14 years through Anthony Gordon’s 18th-minute strike.

But the focus after the game was on the curious incident before kick-off when referee Paul Tierney stood inside a circle formed by Chelsea players as captain Reece James spoke to his team.

Blues manager Liam Rosenior said he will contact the PGMOL, English football referees’ body, to seek clarity on why his side’s pre-game ritual was disrupted. Newcastle were due to kick off and Tierney stood next to the ball near the centre spot, seemingly refusing to move as the team congregated around him.

Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann told BBC Sport: “Something I’ve never seen in 50 years of watching football.”

The Englishman took another swipe at Tierney by claiming Chelsea should have had a penalty when Cole Palmer went down under a challenge from Nick Woltemade in the second half.

“If Paul had focused more on his job, which was to make the right decision, we’d have a penalty today,” he said. “I don’t think anyone can say that Woltemade doesn’t kick Cole Palmer down in the box.

“I didn’t speak to Paul today, I didn’t think it was the right thing. But I’ll be speaking to PGMOL, I’ll be speaking to the refs, just trying to get an understanding of what happened.” REUTERS, AFP