Pep Guardiola reveals moment he thought Man City lost Premier League title to Arsenal

Pep Guardiola feared that Manchester City's title chances were over before Stefan Ortega's save to deny Tottenham's Son Heung-min
Pep Guardiola feared that Manchester City's title chances were over before Stefan Ortega's save to deny Tottenham's Son Heung-min -Credit:Justin Setterfield/Getty Images


Pep Guardiola feared that Manchester City's title chances were over in the moment that Son Heung-min bore down on goal, saying Arsenal would have won the Premier League if the Tottenham forward had scored.

Guardiola thought history was repeating itself as chief-tormentor Son raced through after a Manu Akanji slip looking to score an equaliser that would have left City trailing Arsenal going into the final day. City had never won at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League, only breaking their goalless, winless run of five straight defeats in the FA Cup in January.

"You know how many times Son punishes us the last seven, eight years? How many goals they score with Harry Kane? Oh my god," Guardiola said.

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"We define here how is the team," he continued. "Ortega saves the actions, otherwise Arsenal are champions, that is the reality. Margins are so tight.

"Stefan makes an incredible save. He has this talent, one vs one he is one of the best keepers I've seen in my entire life. He has the German culture, stand up, don't go down. Since I arrive, in the FA Cup and Carabao Cups. Ederson has had four injuries [this season]. He is so reliable, an incredible keeper. Our keeper trainer made an incredible decision to sign him."

Guardiola also joked that his reaction to the Son chance - where he fell onto his back in frustration - was because he had a back back and that position was comfier. He was certainly speaking from a position of comfort with the title race in City's hands going into the final day as he likened Sunday's showdown with West Ham to the 2022 finale against Aston Villa.

"Now we have to be focussed, Wednesday recovery, two days training. I'm sure now it will be similar to Aston Villa in terms of emotions and difficulty. We have to stay in the game and our momentum we will have, our people and momentum. and try to do it.

"I liked [what I saw] because they were so happy in locker room but at the same time they know it's not done. I didn't see an extra celebration. They know it will be tough.

"When you have all the people to come here to the Etihad at 3om on Sunday. Bring incredible energy, go in there and win every inch and every metre to deserve to win the game. All you have to do is win the game, do something any other team has done. Being in that chance, we are fortunate."