Pep Guardiola says Manchester City's Premier League title hopes are over after Chelsea defeat
Thursday 7 November 2019 12:20, UK
Pep Guardiola has admitted Man City's Premier League title hopes are over after a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Wednesday.
Eden Hazard scored twice to seal a vital win for the Blues, who now sit 14 points clear of fourth-place City and seven points ahead of nearest challengers Tottenham.
Champions League qualification is now City's main aim, according to Guardiola, who also said the title is between Tottenham and Chelsea.
City are four points in front of Arsenal and Manchester United in fifth and sixth respectively, having played a game more than both teams.
"Today the Premier League is gone, it will be between Tottenham and Chelsea," the Man City head coach said. "Now we want the Champions League places."
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Sergio Aguero's 27th goal of the season cancelled out Hazard's 10th-minute opener at Stamford Bridge but the Belgium international scored the winner after Willy Caballero initially saved his penalty.
Guardiola handed Fabian Delph his first league start of the season at the home of the league leaders and was left impressed by the midfielder's performance.
"Congratulations to Fabian Delph," he added. "He showed me how wrong I was not to put him on the field. He never complains."
And on Vincent Kompany, who made his first appearance since January, Guardiola added: "Kompany is so aggressive and it's not easy to come back from injury. I'm so happy for him."
The City boss felt his side were superior at the Etihad Stadium in December, when they lost 3-1 to Chelsea, and during Wednesday's defeat at Stamford Bridge, but were beaten by "the details" in the penalty areas.
"I don't have complaints, I don't have regrets," Guardiola added. "They know when I'm not happy I'm going to go in the locker room and say, 'Guys, that is not the right way.'
"But when they do what they have to do, there's nothing to say. Of course we have to analyse for the next season and if it happens again we have to get another solution.
"For us to say how good the manager said we played is not enough. We need to win games and today we didn't win, that's why it is congratulations to Chelsea."
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