“Get rid of the Premier League?” – Pep Guardiola quizzed on whether Man City should give up in Arsenal title chase | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been quizzed on whether he and his side should give up their chase on Arsenal for the top-flight title amid other challenges.

The question emerged in the aftermath of another frustrating afternoon for City, as a dominant first-half performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium failed to translate into a decisive result.

Having built a commanding lead in North London, Pep Guardiola’s side were ultimately forced to settle for a point – a scenario that has become increasingly costly with Arsenal continuing to set the pace at the summit.

Manchester City’s control of the contest before the interval showcased sharp movement between the lines and consistent pressure in the final third, taking a two-goal advantage into the break as Tottenham struggled to cope with the visitors.

The second half, however, told a different story, as momentum shifted following Dominic Solanke’s controversial opening goal for the hosts amid claims of a foul on Marc Guehi in the process, leading on to a sumptuous equaliser via a scorpion kick-style effort.

Speaking after the draw in North London, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on whether – given the unrelenting cross-competition task at hand – his City side could give up the chase in the English top-flight and focus on other trophy opportunities, such as the Champions League.

“So you’re saying to me [I should] get rid of the Premier League? With 14 games to play,” Guardiola hit back.

“We had the injuries. One month ago we had a lot. Nine, 10 players out. We know that. But at the same time, we are there, and continue,” he added. “I know the calendar is what it is, and now we have a semi-final to reach the final [of the Carabao Cup] next Wednesday, and after Anfield, and continue. This is what we have to do.”

Further pressed on the title race as a whole, with Manchester City now six points behind Arsenal, Guardiola said, “As much as the chance is there, the hopes will always be there. It happens. I know that these types of games always in the past you have to realise a way to win, right? And today it didn’t happen.

“But we have difficulties for many things, but the players are coming back and I saw an incredible good spirit in many things. Erling [Haaland] is already with a good shape, I think Nico [O’Reilly], Bernardo [Silva], and Rodri in the middle gave us incredible presence and physicality we needed.

“In the last games we weren’t consistent with the ball, especially without. They were really good to make the process we needed, when we could run we ran, we arrived at the edge [of the penalty area], one-against-one many times, and we didn’t shoot – that we have to improve.”

With players returning from injury and key figures rediscovering form, Manchester City evidently believe that the foundations remain in place for a sustained push across competitions.

Upcoming fixtures, including a Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg against Newcastle United and a daunting trip to Liverpool’s Anfield, will go a long way in shaping how realistic that belief becomes.

For now, Pep Guardiola’s message is that Manchester City are not walking away from the Premier League title chase despite the gap now standing at six points following the latest set of results and Arsenal’s commanding 0-4 win at Elland Road.