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Pep Guardiola downplayed the suggestion that Manchester City would now be the favorite of the Premier League title, despite two victories in as many games as leader Liverpool, who reduced the gap to three points.
Jurgen Klopp's team could have scored a seven-point lead by beating Leicester last week, but only 1-1 and held the same score at West Ham on Monday.
These two draws allowed City to return to the race and after defeating Arsenal 3-1 on Sunday, the champions will be ahead of the goal difference if they win at Everton on Wednesday.
However, after a week back which began with City's 2-1 defeat on Tuesday in Newcastle, threatened with relegation, Guardiola is confident that there will be plenty of twists before the end of the season .
"Three or four days ago we were already finished and the champions were Liverpool. Now we are the favorites and maybe soon we will be in the lead. We try to be calm.
"There will be surprises and it will be difficult for the teams to win every game. Candidates and non-candidates have the capacity and skills to create problems.
"What worries me most is that we never forget who we are as a team. Do what we need to do, we are a strong team. That's what I want to watch every day.
"After that, we see the results, the table, the favorites and that sort of thing."
– "Typical" English title race –
City won the title last season with a record 100 points in the Premier League last season, but Guardiola considers this type of domination as an anomaly in English football.
"I would say it's typical of England, that kind of situation," he said about close combat this season.
"What is not common is what happened last season, where we won 18 straight games, with 100 points and a lot of distance (for the team in second place).
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"Normal, that's what happens now, where every game is tough – and you can win or lose every game because every team is involved in the title, in Europe or in the attempt to stay in the Premier League. League. "
Guardiola also suggested that it would be foolish to eliminate Tottenham, Chelsea or even fifth place, Manchester United, in the title race.
The Spurs are two points behind City, third and five points behind, Chelsea 12 points first and United at 14 points.
"It's a question for you," said Guardiola. "I never said that Tottenham was not there. Chelsea, I never said that they were not there. United, if they continue to do this race every week, they will be there.
"Now, people see the table and see the first two or three people, without looking any further.
"Chelsea can win a few games in a row and be a contender. There are 39 points to play. Everyone is ready to take points. "
Everton boss Marco Silva is under pressure to make a surprise Wednesday after winning only three of his last 12 league games and having suffered a fourth-round exit from the FA Cup championship at Millwall.
But Guardiola thinks that the Toffees must be patient and give time to the Portuguese coach.
"People do not know how difficult it is to create teams, it takes time," Guardiola said. "If they believe in him, they must move forward with him. It's hard to create and move forward. It takes time, so it depends on them.
(AFP)
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