LEICESTER, England — Pep Guardiola, after celebrating his 500th match as the manager of Manchester City, remains pessimistic about his team’s chances of clinching a fifth consecutive Premier League title. Despite securing a much-needed 2-0 victory over Leicester on Sunday, Guardiola expressed doubts about the team’s aspirations for the season.
The win marked a significant relief for City, ending a five-match winless streak across all competitions—only their second triumph in a dismal 14-match stretch, reflecting the toughest period in Guardiola’s managerial career. However, this success leaves the team 14 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, who convincingly defeated West Ham 5-0 and still have a game in hand. Consequently, Guardiola has already dismissed any hopes of a title defense before the calendar flips to January.
“We are far from being in a position to win the Premier League. We acknowledge that the chances are slim, but there are still other competitions we can focus on,” Guardiola remarked. Currently, securing even a single win has become a challenge for City.
Once a dominant force that routinely overcame teams like a struggling Leicester with ease, City now finds itself under pressure throughout matches. Although Savinho’s goal in the 21st minute put City ahead, Leicester missed various opportunities to level the score before Erling Haaland found the net with a header in the 74th minute, solidifying the win.
Guardiola described his feelings after the match, stating, “Relief is the best way to express what we all are feeling. It was not an ideal performance, but we hope this victory will help lift our spirits. Maybe as we enter the new year, we can improve from this tough patch.”
For the first time in a while, a genuine smile appeared on Guardiola’s face as he celebrated on the pitch with his players and expressed gratitude to the fans, marking an achievement of 362 wins in his 500 matches and adding 18 trophies to his legacy. “The players have made this milestone special for me, celebrating it with a win,” he said.
