Title race not over, insists Man City boss Guardiola

AFP | London

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Pep Guardiola insisted the Premier League title race is not over despite a damaging 1-1 draw at West Ham that left Manchester City trailing nine points behind leaders Arsenal on Saturday.

City squandered the lead given to them by Bernardo Silva in the first half at the London Stadium as Konstantinos Mavropanos headed West Ham’s equaliser before the interval.

Just hours after Arsenal scored twice in the final minutes of their 2-0 victory over Everton, Guardiola’s side were unable to muster a response.

Second-placed City have a game in hand on Arsenal and host the leaders in April, but with just eight matches left for the spluttering challengers many pundits have written them off.

However, Guardiola remains defiant, claiming City will not throw in the towel.

“It’s not over. Who said that? We didn’t lose. We will continue,” he said.

“Nine points is a lot against Arsenal but it happened. We have the game at home so we have to try until the end.

“When it is not possible then we congratulate the champion but we have to try.”

The only team to win a Premier League title having ended a match at least nine points behind the leaders having played 30 or more games was City in 2013-14.