Manchester City F.C. need Arsenal F.C. to drop points in one of their final three games to keep alive any realistic hopes of overtaking them in the Premier League title race. With relegation-threatened West Ham United F.C. facing the league leaders on Sunday, they appear the most likely side to do City a favour.
On Friday, Pep Guardiola dismissed questions about whether he would be cheering on West Ham, but after City wrapped up victory over Brentford F.C., he ended his 15-minute media session with a light-hearted remark on the subject.
Manchester City F.C. will now look to West Ham United F.C. with renewed confidence after producing an emphatic win over Brentford F.C. on Saturday in what had been viewed as a difficult test.
Although it took almost an hour to break the deadlock, City eventually cruised to a 3-0 victory, closing the gap on Arsenal F.C. to just two points while also narrowing the goal-difference margin to a single goal. If City collect two more points from their final three matches, the title race could ultimately be decided on goal difference.
Nevertheless, it remains in Arsenal’s control and Guardiola was pragmatic about the prospects of overtaking a side that has demonstrated for nine months they are amongst the finest in Europe.
He said: “We are fighting with a team quite similar to Liverpool in the past, in the final of the Champions League without losing a game and have been top of the league almost all season.
“It’s not in our hands now so it depends on them dropping points but all we can do is Wednesday win again, play the final of the FA Cup and go to Bournemouth – I’d say that is not the best one to go to – and Aston Villa.
“The calendar is demanding but it’s simple. It’s just two weeks and the season will be over.
“I love to be here again. Finish second again minimum so I love it. I didn’t enjoy last season and the moment to fight to qualify for the Champions League was difficult but the Carabao Cup is in our pocket, the FA Cup final at Wembley is the most beautiful day of the season and I love it.
“When you arrive and have the feeling that the job can be done, well done.
“When you arrive fighting against Arsenal, with many changes, seeing how they help each other in every training sessions, it is a joy.”
