Matheus Nunes hands brutal title race reality check to Manchester City squad after Nottingham Forest draw | OneFootball

Manchester City star Matheus Nunes has admitted his side have no chance in the title race if they don’t take care of matters at their end and solely rely on Arsenal to lose points.

The Blues’ hopes of a fifth Premier League title in six seasons were dealt a major blow on Wednesday night as brilliant goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson saw Nottingham Forest salvage a valiant 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points and though the Gunners have played one game more than Manchester City, Pep Guardiola’s side have slipped up where there was already no room for error.

City remain in the running for an unprecedented quadruple and Guardiola will be reminding his players that it isn’t over until it is over, with the Blues playing Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley in a few weeks’ time before hosting Mikel Arteta and co at the Etihad Stadium in April.

However, Manchester City midfielder-turned full-back Matheus Nunes has handed a brutal reality check to his teammates in conversation with BBC Radio Manchester after Wednesday’s disappointing result against Forest.

“There’s still a lot of games to play, we have a lot of experienced players in the squad,” the Portugal international said. “For sure, we’re going to be ready (to play again) because we’re still in every competition with good chances to win everything.

“We’ve been in this position before and we know seven points is a big difference but we have to do our job. If we don’t do our job, in the end we don’t have any chance. It doesn’t matter how many points we are behind (Arsenal), we’re still going to try and chase them.”

Nunes went on to hail Forest’s goals against Manchester City after Vitor Pereira’s side canceled a one-goal deficit twice through individual moments of brilliance from Gibbs-White and Anderson – two players who have been of interest to executives at the Etihad Stadium in the last 12 months.

“Fantastic goals because we gave them space,” the 27-year-old added. “If you don’t give them space, they have to decide under pressure. We have to be more focussed, especially when we are winning – because we have to control the game and not relax, and I think we relaxed a little bit after we scored.”

Manchester City saw on-pitch referee Darren England ignore their calls for a penalty on a few occasions in the second-half against Forest, with Erling Haaland and Rodri at the frustrating ends of a few officiating decisions

“No comment, it’s the referee’s decision. It’s not up to me to judge what he does good or not,” Nunes said on the penalty calls going against Manchester City.

The games are coming thick and fast for City in the run-in and Guardiola’s side will need to move on from Forest as soon as possible, as they prepare for a tricky test away at Newcastle United for the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday evening.