Drop points at West Ham and it's over - Guardiola

Manchester City have won six of the past eight Premier League titles Pep Guardiola has said the Premier League title race will be "over" if his Manchester City side drop points at West Ham on Saturday. Second-placed City sit seven points behind leaders Arsenal though with a game in hand - nine games remaining compared to Arsenal 's eight. The sides also meet in a potentially pivotal fixture at Etihad Stadium on 19 April. However, Guardiola is not looking beyond this weekend, saying: "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. West Ham are battling at the other end in the table and find themselves in the relegation zone, below 17th-placed Nottingham Forest on goal difference only. However, their results have improved lately and the Hammers have lost just one of their past five Premier League matches. Guardiola knows Nuno Espirito Santo's side are fighting for points, but the Spaniard said City "are desperate too". "I've always said when we arrive in the last 10 games every team plays for something - for relegation, for Europa League, for Conference League, for Champions League, to be champions. It's normal, every game," Guardiola said. "Now there are no second chances." Guardiola did not want to dwell on Wednesday's 3-0 defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 before their trip to London Stadium. "Tomorrow night, we have a game, an important one for the Premier League position. Then we have the second leg," he said on Friday. City, who lost in the knockout play-off round in the Champions League last season, will host Real Madrid in the return leg on Tuesday. "It is a pleasure to be here. Last season we could not reach this stage, so it is nice," Guardiola added. The City boss defended his team selection and tactical decisions in the Bernabeu after he was criticised for an attack-minded line-up. "This is not the first time I've been hurt. I've lost many times in the Champions League at all stages - many, many, many times - and have been massacred for decisions and what happened," the 55-year-old said. "My argument or reason [to] justify the team selection - it's because I lost, we lost the game. But if you win, ah, 'genius'. How many times have I heard, 'Pep is a genius' for the team selection?" Pep Guardiola defends Manchester City's Real team Latest Manchester City news, analysis and fan views Ask about Man City - what do you want to know? Premier League: Arsenal host Everton & Chelsea face Newcastle Six Nations: Wales v Italy Six Nations: Ireland beat Scotland to win Triple Crown - reaction Oscar-nominated Frankenstein and more movies that made Guillermo del Toro Celebrated actor Jessie Buckley picks her Desert Island Discs A new spin on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Behind the making of one of Hollywood's most quotable films They were told it wasn't for girls, but these could be the future faces of F1 Brentford, the World Cup and an itch to return to Gaelic football Would Arsenal be ugliest title winners in history? What stats say Jason Tindall - the most misunderstood man in football? Why London Spirit spent £390,000 on uncapped Sussex all-rounder Coles From best in league to bench - Foden's mysterious loss of form Meet ParalympicsGB's 26th team member Winter Paralympics daily guide: 10 golds to be decided on final day The Brits travelling in their thousands to 'Costa del Cheltenham' Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.