Pep Guardiola Forced To Admit Defeat In Awkward Exchange With Journalist

Pep Guardiola had to be heard saying the title race was over following Manchester City's loss to Spurs, because nodding wouldn't do for the journalists in the room.

Last season the title race went down to the last day with City and Liverpool both relentless in winning and Guardiola's side winning out by the one point they'd stayed ahead of their rivals since March 3rd.

The loss to Spurs on Saturday left the champions 22 points behind the runaway league leaders this time around and with just 13 games left only Liverpool themselves have yet to admit the race is over, with Guardiola being made to say it out loud.

The Reds have yet to lose this season and after 25 games their only dropped points remain from the draw with Manchester United in October, when they needed a late Adam Lallana equaliser to keep up their undefeated record.

They have now reached 42 games without losing in the league and are just seven from drawing level with Arsenal's record of 49 games, a mark they'd reach against City should they remain undefeated until April 4th.

Such is their dominance that the game at the Etihad could be preceded by a guard of honour by City to the newly crowned champions, who could win the title at Crystal Palace on March 21st.

Further coneding the title Guardiola added, "We are far away, they are unstoppable, they've won a lot of points, we dropped points in games similar to today, like when we played at Anfield. Now is target for the competitions and qualify for the Champions League next season."

The former Barcelona manager will turn his attention to winning more silverware this season with City in the final of the Carabao Cup against Aston Villa and also still in the Champions League and FA Cup.

These scenes won't be seen outside of the Etihad this season. Image: PA Images

The 49-year-old twice won the Champions League as manager of Barca in 2009 and 2011 but hasn't been back to a final since those victories.

He won the domestic title three years in-a-row with Bayern Munich but his lack of European success led to some seeing his time there as a relative failure and there is some concern his time at City could be the same.

Can City get over the disappointment of losing the league title by winning in Europe?

Topics: Manchester City, Spurs, Liverpool, Football News, Pep Guardiola, Premier League, Jurgen Klopp

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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