Pep Guardiola believes defeat against Leicester this weekend would cost Manchester City the title.
The champions host the struggling Foxes on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, and can move within three points of leaders Arsenal with victory.
Yet with the Gunners tackling another troubled team in West Ham on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, Guardiola feels any slip-up could be ruinous for their chances
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The City manager said: “Everybody knows that if we lose games we lose competitions. That’s why our attention to details is higher.
“It’s the same [on Saturday] – if we lose the game, we will not be champions. If we win we could still be there.
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“But we cannot forget, we are six points behind Arsenal, a team who have dropped few points during the season and have one game a week, with a lot of time for recovery, to analyse and prepare for games.
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“It’s so difficult if you drop points. That’s why you have to be there as much as possible.”
While Arsenal have just their eight remaining Premier League games to play this season, City are still involved in the Champions League and FA Cup.
Guardiola’s side have coped well with heavy schedules in the past and he hopes they can use it to their advantage again.
He said: “Sometimes our experience, when we are [playing] games every three days, every four days, we are in rhythm and focus and that helps us. In the past it was like that, playing competitions until the end.
“Sometimes when you have a week [between games] you lose this type of feeling.”
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City’s game in hand on Arsenal is against European-chasing Brighton away, with the date of the fixture yet to be scheduled.
However, Guardiola is just as wary of their game at the Amex as the one against title rivals Arsenal at home later this month.
“The reality is we are six points behind,” the Spaniard said. “There is no guarantee that we will win the game in hand against the best team [Brighton] in the world to make the build-up.
“There is no team better in the process to bring the ball from the keeper to the last quarter. There is no team better in modern football right now.
“Then we have Arsenal at home. There is no guarantee. To be close, we need to win our games.
“When the games are tied, we will see the reality. Tomorrow we have to sleep with three points behind.”
Arteta: We need luck in title race
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admits you always need luck on your side in a title race
On the other side of the title race divide, Mikel Arteta admitted his Arsenal team will need luck in order to come out on top against City.
The Gunners go to London rivals West Ham on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, looking to get back to winning ways after last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Liverpool.
“You need luck in the right moment,” said Arteta.
“That luck, and where it comes from, is going to be really important. There is another part in sport, sometimes it’s about inches. Those inches have to go your way.
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“We are where we are. We are happy where we are. Now we have to finish the job. In order to do that, we demand that extra bit from everybody.”
What separates Arsenal and Manchester City’s run-in is a stark contrast in games remaining. The Gunners have only the Premier League to compete for, while City have a FA Cup semi-final next week, while they have one foot in the Champions League semi-finals.
Asked if the amount of fixtures will play a part, Arteta added: “We want our players to be as fit as possible and available.
“We have had some issues, especially in the last few months, with some important players. We want to have everyone available, fit and at their best.”
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