Premier League 2025-26: Manchester City must beat West Ham or title race will be over, says Guardiola

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge “will be over” if it fails to beat resurgent West Ham United on Saturday.

City could kick off at the London Stadium 10 points behind leader Arsenal, should the Gunners beat Everton earlier in the day.

Guardiola’s side has a game in hand on Arsenal and home advantage when the teams meet next month.

But it must bounce back from the disappointment of a 3-0 UEFA Champions League defeat at the hands of Real Madrid on Wednesday, that means its chances of progressing to the quarterfinals are slim.

“The league was the most difficult title,” Guardiola said Friday. “So, the Premier League always, I believe, is the most difficult one and still we are there, knowing that if we drop points, it’ll be over.”

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The City boss has won six Premier League titles in his nine previous seasons in England.

But his team was well off the pace last season, finishing 13 points behind champion Liverpool in third place.

“Now it is a pleasure to be here. Last season we could not live that in this stage, so it’s nice,” said Guardiola.

“Always I said when I arrived in the last 10 games every team plays for something — for relegation, for Europa League, for Conference League, for Champions League, to be champions. So, it’s normal. Now, it is no second chances.”

West Ham remains in the relegation zone but has lost just two of its past 11 games in all competitions to climb to within one point of safety and reach the FA Cup quarterfinals.

Published on Mar 13, 2026