Guardiola Admits Title Chasing Is Harder as City Trail Arsenal

Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City would rather be setting the Premier League pace than chasing Arsenal, with the champions currently sitting two points behind the early leaders heading into the festive period.

City have once again positioned themselves as contenders after a steady run of results, but Guardiola made clear that being ahead of the pack would ease the burden as the season intensifies across multiple competitions.

Speaking as City continue to balance domestic and European demands, Guardiola stressed that his side will stick to a controlled, game by game approach rather than becoming fixated on the league table. He underlined that while Arsenal have set a strong early tempo, City remain firmly in contention on all fronts.

The context adds extra weight to Guardiola’s words. He has never gone two consecutive seasons without winning a league title in his managerial career, and last season’s trophyless campaign has sharpened expectations around a swift return to the summit. With the Champions League, Carabao Cup semi finals and FA Cup all in play, City are entering a defining phase of the campaign.

Attention now turns to a difficult trip to Nottingham Forest, a fixture Guardiola described as one of the league’s most demanding, particularly during the congested winter schedule. The match also carries emotional significance following the passing of a major figure in Forest’s history, with City planning to pay their respects.

Guardiola highlighted the challenge of the environment as much as the opponent, noting Forest’s physicality, intensity, and the pressure generated by their home support during this period of the season.

Beyond the title race, City’s recent improvement has been driven in part by the form of Rayan Cherki. The young attacking midfielder has added creativity and urgency in the final third, helping City regain momentum after an inconsistent spell.

Guardiola, however, was careful to frame Cherki’s rise as a work in progress rather than a finished product. He emphasized that his demands apply to the entire squad, with constant improvement viewed as non negotiable regardless of talent or form.

As City prepare for a challenging run of fixtures, the message from Guardiola is clear. The champions are still very much alive in the race, but the margin for error remains thin. Whether City can turn pursuit into control will define their season as the title battle heads into its decisive months.