Pep Guardiola said the "extraordinary" quality of Chelsea and Liverpool makes it impossible for them to believe that Manchester City are on course for a fourth Premier League title in five seasons, despite a 1-0 win at Brentford to beat the champions. Eight points clarified. table top.
Phil Foden's first-half goal secured City's tenth consecutive league win and set up Guardiola's team's chances of extending a double-digit lead over Chelsea and Liverpool, who meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, by winning at Arsenal on Saturday. .
No team has failed to clinch and win the Premier League title, with an eight-point lead at the end of December. But despite history and current form pointing to City winning the title by a healthy margin, Guardiola insisted the race was still on.
"We have won the game, are in good running, but it is the end of December, so there will be many games like this," Guardiola said after the win at Brentford. "Yes, we are eight points ahead, but have 54 more points to play.
"54 points to play. 54. We were 4-0 up against Leicester and then in 20 minutes, it was 4-3. Thanks for the kind words because we won, but I don't think it's already Because Chelsea, European champions and Liverpool are more than exceptional.
“We have won 10 games in a row, so when you get 30 out of 30, you are in a good position.” But there are still 54 points to play. We have to come back to London on Saturday and play at 12:30, so let's move on."
Guardiola paid tribute to Brentford's tenacity and ability to make the most of his qualities, after watching Thomas Frank's team work hard to lead City to victory.
"We played a match against this team in this stadium as it should be played," he said. "No free-kick, no set-piece, go shoulder to shoulder and let the players make the difference.
"Someday you play with a different rhythm to win and that's what we did today.
"Every time Brentford put in the box, they are very good. They have beaten Arsenal here, drawn with Liverpool. As a team, they are exceptional."