“We are desperate too” – Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City must beat West Ham to stay in title race | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted his side can effectively kiss the Premier League title goodbye if they fail to beat West Ham on Saturday night.

The Blues are searching for momentum in east London after being put to the sword by Real Madrid and hat-trick hero Federico Valverde in a 3-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu in the opening leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie earlier this week.

City are entering this weekend’s games seven points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal as Guardiola and co look to pull off yet another miraculous hijack of the title crown right under the Gunners’ noses in a transitional season.

Every game is a final for City between now and the end of the season as they remain in the running for an unprecedented quadruple, with a return leg at home against Real Madrid and Carabao Cup final against Arsenal slated after this weekend’s league trip to face West Ham.

What has Pep Guardiola said ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League clash against West Ham?

Guardiola discussed Manchester City’s midweek shambles in the Spanish capital at length in a press conference on Friday afternoon, criticising referee Maurizio Mariani for awarding Vinicius Jr. a penalty after the Brazilian was taken down by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The 55-year-old doubled down on his selection choices at the Santiago Bernabeu and admitted that chances of a turnaround in next week’s return leg in Manchester do appear bleak for City.

Asked whether the fact that West Ham are fighting for Premier League survival makes them a dangerous proposition, Guardiola admitted that Manchester City are in the same boat as the Hammers and cannot afford further slip-ups in the title race.

“We are also desperate,” the Catalan said as he conceded that the title race would effectively be over should Arsenal extend their lead at the top of the table this weekend, with the Gunners facing Everton at the Emirates Stadium a few hours before kick-off between West Ham and Manchester City at the London Stadium on Saturday night.

Can Manchester City pull off another remontada against Arsenal and Mikel Arteta?

Manchester City have made a name for usurping Arsenal in the final stages of the Premier League title race over the years, with Mikel Arteta‘s side coming desperately close to title glory but falling short at the final hurdle.

However, this City side are at a nascent stage of their transition under director of football Hugo Viana and there is no telling whether the Blues have it in them to go on a nine game winning run between now and the end of the season.

The title race is out of City’s hands as even if they go on and win all of their remaining nine games of the Premier League campaign – including a home meeting with Arsenal in April – Guardiola’s men would need Arsenal to lend them a helping hand if the Blues are to hijack their way to another title.

It remains highly unlikely that Arsenal bottle yet another title, with glory in their sights as they themselves remain on course for a quadruple, but much will ride on the upcoming Carabao Cup final clash between the Premier League title hopefuls at Wembley on March 22.