Pep Guardiola has delivered his verdict on what to expect from Manchester City's final Premier League fixture of the season at home against West Ham United on Sunday.
The reigning champions have been involved in a fierce title battle with Arsenal throughout the campaign and they know that victory over the Hammers at the Etihad Stadium will clinch an unprecedented fourth consecutive English top-flight title.
Man City are in buoyant mood as they have won each of their last eight matches, including a 2-0 success at Tottenham Hotspur in midweek, to leave the league leaders two points clear of the Gunners in second place with just one game remaining.
The Citizens are no strangers to final-day drama in the Premier League, with arguably the most iconic moment in the division's history taking place in 2012 when Sergio Aguero scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Queens Park Rangers to clinch the title on goal difference at the expense of rivals Manchester United.
Man City were also given a scare on the final day of the 2021-22 season when Aston Villa raced into a two-goal lead, before Ilkay Gundogan's brace inspired a remarkable comeback to help Guardiola's men finish above Liverpool to win another title.
© Reuters
Guardiola "ready for a tough" West Ham test
David Moyes's West Ham now stand in Man City's way of making history and Guardiola has admitted that his team could be involved in another nail-biting drama-filled final day of the season.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Guardiola said: "Everyone would love to be in our position but it won't be easy. I have the feeling it will be an Aston Villa game. We would love to be 3-0 up but it isn't going to happen.
"[West Ham] will be ready to beat us. I don't have any doubt about that. It was the same with Aston Villa two years ago - they were in the same position, they didn't have anything to play for - and we know what happened.
"What happened against Aston Villa and QPR, with the Aguero moment and the [Edin] Dzeko moment, I'm ready for a tough, tough game (against West Ham).
"I want to put in the minds of the players. Look at Tottenham (on Wednesday), how they fought for every ball, it was incredible aggression and commitment. It's going to happen the same (with West Ham).
"Destiny is in our hands. Ourselves and our people have to be ready to support from the first minute and be with us."
© Reuters
Guardiola: 'We have to be perfect to win PL title'
Guardiola has insisted that his Man City side must be 'perfect' against West Ham if they are to come out on top on Sunday, adding: "We want to experience [winning the title] again and we have to perform. You can't think 'we want to win it', you have to do something to [earn] it, you have to be resilient in the bad moments like what happened against Aston Villa (in 2022) and against Spurs in the last game.
"Don't talk about the consequences, just what you have to do to win, to control it, the transitions, the coolness, the set-pieces, the long balls - how you defend every single ball. There's a lot of stuff that West Ham demand that you have to do, and you have to do it perfect. These are the only things on my mind.
"I don't want to play the game thinking about the consequences, what will happen if. We have to be focused more than ever and feel the support of our people - this is what we need to think about.
"If you are waiting for them to drop [points] and become champions, you are wrong. If you are thinking Arsenal are going to drop points at Old Trafford [last week], forget about it. If you are thinking Everton are going to do something [at Arsenal on Sunday], forget about it."
Man City will be confident of success against West Ham as they have won 13 and drawn three of their last 16 Premier League meetings with the Hammers, while they have not lost at the Etihad in their last 43 games in all competitions - a remarkable club-record run.
Oliver Thomas
