“Let’s win against Brentford” – Pep Guardiola admits Everton draw has damaged Manchester City’s title hopes

Predicted Starting XI: Manchester City vs Brentford (Premier League)

Guardiola: We dropped two points but still we try

Asked whether the title race is over after the draw at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Guardiola offered generous praise for all three English clubs in European finals before addressing City’s own position.

“Well, it’s more difficult, because we are facing the team that’s going to play the final of the Champions League,” he said. “So here I want to congratulate Mikel (Arteta) and his group on reaching the final, it’s good for English football.

“Of course, for Arsenal, but for English football it’s good. The same like Aston Villa; Unai showed again how incredible a manager he is. I think six Europa League finals. And the same with Crystal Palace with Oliver (Glasner). So, it’s good for English football the three teams are going to play in three finals, it’s really, really good.

“And of course, we’re facing – answering your question – a team that has been really good and I know the only chance that we had, we dropped two points in a tough game against Everton, but still we try to win, to sleep two points behind them, and see what happens.”

The framing of wanting to “sleep two points behind them” after Saturday is telling – Guardiola is not speaking the language of a man who has given up.

A win against Brentford, combined with a slip from Arsenal against West Ham on Sunday, would cut the gap to two points with two games remaining – with City retaining a game in hand – and suddenly make the final weeks of the season extraordinarily tense.

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Let’s win against Brentford, then we’ll see: Pep on title race

Pressed on whether he would be watching Arsenal’s game against West Ham and whether he might even be wearing a claret and blue shirt, Guardiola was in no mood to play along.

“Let me play against Brentford, right? And do our job,” he said. “Will you be cheering West Ham on? Will you be wearing a West Ham shirt? You’re so funny, huh?!

“Let’s win our game against Brentford and after in the press conference, like always you are, because you cannot live without my press conferences, come there and – win against Brentford.

“So always these kind of things, it’s a big mistake thinking for the other ones. It’s a tough opponent. They are playing to be in European competition next season, making a top, top season. So let’s do our job as best as possible, and then we’ll see.”

On whether he will view this season as a positive, regardless of the outcome of the Premier League title race, the Catalan added: “Absolutely. Even the guys with a lot of experience can do those mistakes (like Marc Guehi against Everton), so it’s not about that.

“But it’s the first time that Marc or Khusa (Abdukodir Khusanov), Gigio (Donnarumma) less but it’s his first time here with Antoine (Semenyo) – the first time we are in the title race, the feeling that I cannot lose that game.

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“And sometimes we need a little bit of time to live that. But that’s what I said, so still we are here, the season has been more than good so far, so let’s win next game, and after we’ll see what happens, and we’ll see in the future.”

Brentford are pushing for a place in European competition next season, arriving at the Etihad Stadium with plenty to play for. The title race may hinge on what happens elsewhere on Sunday but Guardiola’s message ahead of Saturday is the same one he has delivered all season. Win the football game in front of you. Everything else will take care of itself.