Pep Guardiola admits that Manchester City's "only chance" to claim Premier League glory is to win all five of their remaining games despite leapfrogging Arsenal on Wednesday night.
City secured a potentially defining win over Arsenal on Sunday and then backed it up with an underwhelming victory over Burnley at Turf Moor. Erling Haaland scored the game's only goal after five minutes but the Manchester outfit failed to hammer home their advantage.
Guardiola's side have taken top spot by virtue of goals scored with the two teams tied on points and goal difference. It leaves the two title hopefuls with no margin for error if their opposition continue to remain perfect.
City themselves have been involved in several title battles where they had to win every game going, 2019 a case in point. And Guardiola says that his team have to be perfect from here on in, telling Match of the Day: "Now we have the FA Cup on Saturday and after that we have five games. The only chance is to win all the games."
City face challenging away trips to Everton and Bournemouth before the season is up. They also host Brentford and Crystal Palace with Aston Villa at the Etihad their final game of the campaign, with the title potentially going until the final day.
Guardiola's side produced one of their best displays of the year to see off Arsenal at the weekend, but failed to get anywhere near those levels. The Catalan though didn't seem concerned. "It was such a demanding game on Sunday," he said. "It is not easy after three days but in the Premier League you have to adjust. We are used to doing it. We competed really well, we made a really good game but it's a pity the chances we had."
City had a mammoth 28 efforts on goal, but only nine of those were on target. The visitors had been expected to win comfortably but saw Haaland hit the post in the second-half whilst a number of other chances went begging. Guardiola though insisted he was not angered by the display.
He clamed: "I was not frustrated, why would I be? We won three points, we are top of the league. Of course we can do better but the guys did everything."