Premier League not easy: Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said Saturday’s 3-2 derby defeat by Manchester United shows that winning the Premier League isn’t as easy as his team have made it look this season.

City could have wrapped up the title with a victory but instead they suffered their first home defeat this season, giving up a two goal lead in the process and leaving them possibly needing two more wins from their last six games.

“For the fans it is tough and maybe we are going to get more credit if we are able to win the Premier League and people will say how tough it is to win,” Guardiola said after the game.

“In November, December everybody said the Premier League is done. But it was a tough, tough fight to keep going every weekend to be focused. This is the first time we lost two games in a row.”

With United having closed the gap, a win at Tottenham Hotspur next Saturday for City will not be enough for the title, provided that Jose Mourinho’s team take care of business against bottom club West Bromwich Albion next day.

While it was a bitter occasion for City’s fans, who had hoped to lord it over their cross-town rivals, Guardiola said some perspective was needed. He also turned his mind quickly to Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final tie with Liverpool, which City trail 3-0 from the firstleg.

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