Pep Guardiola again rules out late Manchester City title charge

A win for Pep Guardiola’s side could see them move up to second above Tottenham and Liverpool, and eight points behind top-of-the-table Chelsea. We played good. Our build up was much better.

“It’s a pity that the distance, the gap between Chelsea is so big”, said Guardiola.

“That looks like being a really big month for us.” said Moyes, who saw Jones waste two presentable headed chances at the end of the first-half.

They ran out knowing they were deep in trouble after wins for Crystal Palace, Swansea and Leicester on Saturday had left them six points adrift of safety with 12 games to go.

Sunderland’s status as a Premier League side is looking bleak after a bruising weekend of results.

‘But now we are in a position when you arrive in March and April when, if you win every game you stay (in touch), but if you lose you are out (of the title race). That’s what they usually do, and this Sunday they face a Manchester City team in fantastic form, and this could very well be a Trap Game for everyone watching.

Guardiola said City had not had an easy afternoon against a stubborn Sunderland side who hit the post through Jermain Defoe before Sergio Aguero opened the scoring.

“It doesn’t matter the position they are, I know in that position they will be more physical and pay more attention due to their situation”.

He’s had to deal with the Gabriel Jesus problem, of course, but – since the teenager broke a bone in his foot against Bournemouth – has had the striker’s shirt to himself for the last three games running.

And Guardiola’s ridiculous squad depth was showcased emphatically when he had the luxury of bringing Kevin De Bruyne on late in the second half.

The sequence also features an FA Cup quarter-final at Middlesbrough and the deciding leg of their Champions League last 16 tie with Monaco, as well as two Premier League fixtures. “Man City have a busy programme and they have to come up here with a lot of other games on the horizon”, via BBC Sport.

I’m sure we can expect more soundbites from the PR and Media department this week as they wheel another player out to ease the fans’ worries via some contrived interview that reeks of bland, sterile, mechanical scripting. It’s up to us to get enough points and, if we get to that sort of level, we’ll be okay.