Guardiola Questions the Two-Horse Title Race

Pep Guardiola’s Remarks on Title Contenders

In a recent statement, Pep Guardiola expressed skepticism about the notion that the Premier League title race this season is merely a contest between his team, Manchester City, and current leaders Arsenal.

Guardiola’s doubts arose after Mikel Arteta’s squad extended their lead to five points by securing a decisive 4-1 victory against Aston Villa on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, City’s defeat against Villa allowed them to fall six points behind the leaders, but a win against Sunderland could reduce that gap to just two points. The match is scheduled for Thursday at 20:00 GMT.

When asked if the title battle is confined to Manchester City and Arsenal, Guardiola responded, “Are you sure?”

He further noted, “A few weeks ago, it was only Arsenal, and just two days ago, three teams were in contention. Now it seems to be just one. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Other Contenders in the Title Race

Currently, Liverpool occupies the fourth position in the league standings and faces a daunting challenge to defend their title, as they are trailing Arsenal by 13 points.

Manchester City concluded a challenging 2025 season with an impressive eight-game winning streak across all competitions. They now travel to the Stadium of Light to face an unbeaten Sunderland side this season.

Sunderland, under manager Regis le Bris, has made a strong return to the Premier League, holding the seventh spot in the standings at the season’s midpoint.

Guardiola acknowledged Sunderland’s resilience, recalling, “Their home crowd is incredible; I remember how tough it was during my first season there. They have already defeated teams like Newcastle, and both Arsenal and Aston Villa struggled to secure wins against them.”

He added, “This match will be very challenging, but we are prepared.”

Guardiola Addresses Transfer Rumors

With the winter transfer window set to open on Thursday, there is speculation regarding player movements both in and out of Manchester City.

Reports suggest that Guardiola’s team is on the verge of finalizing a deal with Bournemouth to sign forward Antoine Semenyo for a fee of £65 million.

When questioned about the Ghanaian’s future, Guardiola remarked, “I must be cautious with my words. That’s why I mentioned that the transfer window is currently closed.”

In addition, there are discussions regarding winger Oscar Bobb potentially going on loan to Borussia Dortmund for the remainder of the season, with negotiations reportedly at an advanced stage.

Guardiola stated, “When it happens, it will happen. I don’t have any updates on that right now. You should ask Oscar, not me.”