Man City’s Title Hopes Over? Pep Guardiola Hits Back With Strong Statement

Last Updated:February 02, 2026, 11:55 IST

Pep Guardiola vows Man City will keep fighting for the Premier League title despite a 2-2 draw with Spurs and a six-point gap to Arsenal.

Pep Guardiola. (Image: X)

Man City boss Pep Guardiola refused to accept defeat in the Premier League title race against Arsenal just yet. After his side’s 2-2 draw against Spurs on Sunday, which left them six points behind the league leaders, the Spaniard declared that his side will not lose hope and keep fighting.

City surged ahead in north London with first-half goals from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo, but unravelled after the break. Dominic Solanke pulled one back, bundling the ball in after contact with Marc Guehi, with VAR allowing the goal to stand. City failed to cope with sustained Tottenham pressure and Solanke then struck a stunning scorpion-kick equaliser from Conor Gallagher’s cross.

“With 14 games to play? As much the chance is there, the hopes will always be there,” Guardiola said. “I know that these types of games always in the past you had to capitalise and win but yeah, the difficulties for many things, but players are coming back and I saw incredibly good spirit and many things. We had the injuries, one month ago we had a lot with nine or 10 players out but at the same time we are there and all the calendar is what it is.”

Guardiola was particularly upset about the first goal. Solanke’s finish was far from clean and he seemed to kick through Guehi before getting the slight touch on the ball, though it was enough to beat Gianluigi Donnarumma.

“If a central defender does it to a striker, it’s a penalty,” he said. “The game was well played and sometimes for long balls and second balls you miss it. We would prefer not to have the transition but an emotional issue for the first goal that the referee conceded to Spurs and after that the momentum is difficult to control.”

Earlier, senior midfielder Rodri went on a rant about the same issue, going as far as saying that the referees were deliberately against City because they had ‘won a lot’ already.

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