Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City cannot afford any more slip-ups in the Premier League, warning that failure to beat West Ham could effectively end their title hopes.
The City manager is trying to quickly shift his team’s focus back to domestic duties after a difficult night in Europe.
Guardiola’s side suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat away to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in their Champions League clash, leaving them with a huge challenge ahead in the return leg.
Despite the setback, Guardiola insists the immediate priority is their league match against West Ham United. City currently trail Arsenal by seven points in the race for the Premier League title, meaning any dropped points at this stage could prove fatal to their chances of catching the leaders.
Speaking ahead of the weekend fixture, Guardiola emphasised the importance of focusing on the next game rather than the looming European rematch.
“Tomorrow night we have a game, an important one for the Premier League position. Then we have the second leg,” he said.
“We’re used to it, no? For many years we’ve lived these kind of situations.”
City have little time to dwell on the defeat in Spain as their schedule demands immediate attention elsewhere. With the title race entering its decisive stage, Guardiola believes his team must treat every remaining match as crucial.
Guardiola admitted that his side do not currently have much margin for error as they attempt to close the gap.
“Now it’s West Ham and after that we will have time to think about it. Play the game you have to play and after the game will dictate if you have a chance or not,” he said.
The City boss admitted that their situation in Europe is far from comfortable following the defeat in Madrid.
“We don’t have many dollars in the bank but we will see on Tuesday. Now it’s West Ham. The Premier League is the most difficult title. We’re still there, knowing that if we drop points it will be over.”
While City are battling for the title, West Ham approach the match with their own urgent objectives. The London club are currently fighting to avoid relegation and desperately need points to climb away from danger.
Under the leadership of manager Nuno Espírito Santo, West Ham are facing a tense end to the campaign as they attempt to secure their Premier League status.
Their position near the bottom of the table could make the contest particularly challenging for City.
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Teams fighting relegation often show added determination in the closing weeks of the season, especially when facing top opposition.
For Guardiola, this means his players must be fully focused despite the disappointment of their European defeat.
The immediate aim is to secure three points against West Ham before turning attention back to the Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.
Should City fail to win in London, Guardiola fears their hopes of winning the Premier League crown could disappear entirely.
With the title race tightening and European ambitions hanging in the balance, the coming days could prove decisive for Manchester City’s season.
