Pep Guardiola has declared there is “no chance” of Manchester City winning the Premier League this season.
This comment follows the club’s 2-0 victory over Leicester City on Sunday— their second win in 14 matches across all competitions.
The win leaves City fifth on the table, trailing leaders, Liverpool, by 14 points.
In a late Sunday statement on the Premier League website titled “‘No chance’ – Guardiola rules Man City out of title race,” the Catalan manager admitted the title is already out of reach.
“Hopefully the new year can help us bounce back,” Guardiola said post-match. “It is not enjoyable right now, it is just relief. We have done incredible things for many years. It is not the best.”
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, he was more blunt.
He said, “We are far away from winning the Premier League. We accept there’s already no chance of that, but we have other things to fight for – FA Cup, top four… and winning games helps.”
January reinforcements needed
With the transfer window opening on Wednesday, Guardiola hinted at incoming signings to bolster his injury-hit squad.
“In some positions we need help,” Guardiola admitted. “When we’re all together, we’re the team we were, but with important players out for weeks and months, it’s so difficult.”
City’s injury struggles, particularly in defense and midfield, have taken their toll.
“I thought central defenders would be fit all season, but we have struggled—holding midfield and central defenders, we need help,” he said.
“The market is the market—it’s not easy, it’s expensive, so we will see what the club can do.”
Guardiola 500 matches at City
Despite City’s struggles, Sunday’s win marked a personal milestone for Guardiola – his 500th match as Manchester City manager. Reflecting on the achievement, Guardiola spoke with pride.
“Yeah definitely [proud],” he said. “It is better to celebrate it with a victory and the new year. I am so proud. I would cry now. I’m so proud to be a part of this club.”
“Today when they told me, ‘You are going to do 500 games,’ I said ‘Wow.’ But we are judged in the last 13. In the other 480 games, they have been an incredible period and yeah, more to come.”
Record of dominance
While City’s form has dipped this season, Guardiola’s legacy at the club remains unparalleled. Since his arrival in 2016, no Premier League manager has come close to matching his achievements.
City have claimed six of the last eight Premier League titles, including an unprecedented four in a row last season. They also completed the Treble in 2022/23, echoing Manchester United’s historic feat from 1999.
Since Guardiola took charge, City have accumulated 45 more points and scored 83 more goals than any other team in the league.
Guardiola is the first Premier League manager to oversee 500 matches since David Moyes hit that landmark with Everton in 2013. As the league’s longest-serving active manager, Guardiola’s reign at City surpasses Brentford’s Thomas Frank by two years.
Only Sir Alex Ferguson, with 13 Premier League titles, has more than Guardiola’s six – but with more milestones ahead, Pep’s chapter in City’s history is far from over.
