Pep Guardiola says Manchester City cannot afford more slip-ups in the Premier League title race, trailing Arsenal by seven points after Newcastle loss.
LONDON: Pep Guardiola believes his Manchester City side have almost no room for further errors in the Premier League title race.
Last weekend’s defeat at Newcastle was City’s fourth league loss this season, leaving them seven points behind leaders Arsenal.
The Gunners have suffered just one defeat in 12 games and are in superb form.
“We cannot lose games, absolutely – that is the truth,” the City manager said on Friday.
“They are so strong and winning games, and winning games in a way where they are so solid, like we had in the past with Liverpool against us and they were not going to drop many points.”
Reflecting on the Newcastle loss, he added: “We made a really good game, we created more in Newcastle than previous seasons and it was quite good, but we lost.”
City also lost 2-0 to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League with a heavily rotated team.
Guardiola felt his players were too cautious against the German side.
“We didn’t try. In football when you play on the green you have to try things and we didn’t try.”
He added: “I think they played not to make mistakes, not to play to do something, that is so difficult.”
The manager suggested the players who started against Leverkusen lacked self-belief despite his confidence in them.
Guardiola understood the home crowd’s subdued reaction during that match.
“As a fan I would not cheer my team, playing in the way we played. I don’t blame (them), I blame myself.”
City face Leeds on Saturday still without midfielder Rodri, though Guardiola confirmed the Spaniard would return soon. – AFP
