“We’re not in an ideal position” – Pep Guardiola realistic about Manchester City’s title chances against Arsenal

“We’re not in an ideal position” – Pep Guardiola realistic about Manchester City’s title chances against Arsenal

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted his side are not where they would like in the title race after keeping up the pressure on leaders Arsenal by beating Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.

It was from a routine win as a 3-0 scoreline suggests but goals a brace from Erling Haaland either side of Phil Foden’s sixth Premier League goal in four games sealed a vital triumph on the road for the Blues, who have won their last five games in all competitions.

Crystal Palace had a series of chances throughout the tightrope game that could have ended very differently if the Eagles had their shooting boots on. However, you can only beat what’s in front of you and City made their moments count.

City are in the shadow of Arsenal and while this was far from an ideal Guardiola performance, the Catalan would have been somewhat impressed that his side came away from south London with three points and a clean sheet.

The Blues travelled to Selhurst Park for their third fixture in eight days, having seen off Sunderland in the Premier League last week before overturning a one-goal deficit to beat Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu in midweek.

City were fatigued from their busy schedule as Guardiola made just one change to his lineup from Madrid, with Tijjani Reijnders coming in for the injured Jeremy Doku. While Guardiola knows he would prefer to be leading the title race, he credited his players for their doggedness to remain on Arsenal’s heels after Sunday’s victory in London.

“Still we’re not at our top; we see it in some moments during the season,” Guardiola said in conversation with BBC Match of the Day. “But every time, we can be better and better.

“We are not in an ideal position, we prefer to be first (in the Premier League table) but we are close to the top of the league. In the UEFA Champions League, we are in a good position with the problems that we had. And the players have been fantastic so far.”

Titles are won on hard-fought away wins and Guardiola admitted that his side made a statement to their title rivals owing to the nature of the victory, which is City’s fourth in a row in the Premier League since they narrowly lost away at Newcastle in November.

“Making 0-3 here (at Selhurst Park) is a good statement for us,” Guardiola added in his post-match press conference to add greater impetus to a job well done at what has been a tricky venue for Manchester City under the 54-year-old.

City will be delighted with the clean sheet, particularly with the number of chances Palace had to inflict some real damage on the Blues, especially in the first-half. Led by Ruben Dias, a resolute Manchester City backline thwarted the Eagles and kept them at bay to mark a sixth Premier League clean sheet of the season for Gianluigi Donnarumma.

“Ruben Dias is an incredible leader, incredible leader! Consistent, no injuries, and his professionalism the day after, the day before, how he leads his mates, vocal – he’s an incredible signing for Manchester City from many years and many years to come! He’s a real captain, a real leader,” Guardiola said.

It is true that Manchester City would prefer to be in Arsenal’s position at this stage of the title race but Guardiola and his squad have a wealth of experience to know all too well that they just need to be in and around the top of the table by the spring of 2026, which is when the Blues truly kick into gear and leave everyone else behind.

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