Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes are out of their hands, urging focus on Champions League clash at Real Madrid

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has conceded that the Premier League title is no longer in the club’s hands after a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium.

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City trail leaders Arsenal by seven points, with a game in hand, following the Gunners’ 1-0 victory over Brighton.

Guardiola, speaking ahead of City’s Champions League last-16 clash at Real Madrid, stressed the importance of the right mindset over obsessing about results.

“It’s a pity that the Premier League is not in our hands, that was a big drop against Nottingham Forest,” Guardiola said.

“Don’t think about it much. Just recover, go to Madrid, make a good selection. Hopefully we can behave, I’m not talking win or lose, behave in the way who we are.”

The Spanish manager emphasised the importance of identity and team character on big stages. “It’s always my focus when we play in the big stages against big teams, it’s not win or lose, it’s be who we are as individuals and as a team. After that you can win or lose, you never know. But that is the main, main target I have in my mind. The players know it, I say it to them all the time.”

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Guardiola’s comments underline City’s determination to maintain focus on European competition while the Premier League race heads into a critical final phase.