Guardiola: City still in title race despite New Year’s Eve defeat

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists the race for the Premier League title is still very much on, despite watching his side fall ten points behind leaders Chelsea on New Year’s Eve.

The Blues ended 2016 with a 1-0 defeat to second-placed Liverpool – Georginio Wijnaldum’s eighth-minute header separating the two sides – as Jurgen Klopp’s men moved to within six points of top spot.

But while Chelsea extended their unbeaten run to 13 games with victory over Stoke City on Saturday, Guardiola is confident they are not out of reach, insisting there is still plenty of time for Antonio Conte’s side to be reeled in.

(Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

“We have to focus on ourselves, not what the teams around us are doing or what our targets are,” he said.

“We are only entering the second half of the season and there is still more than five months to go so it’s a bit early to be worrying too much. It’s not even January yet so there is a lot of time left.

“All we must do is concentrate on the next game which is Burnley, try to win that and then look to win two or three games in a row and carry on from there.

“We have to show strong personality, keep fighting and do what we have to do to win the games.”