Marco certain title race is far from over as Cottagers host champions elect City

MARCO SILVA has rubbished talk the title race is already done and dusted.

The message from the Fulham manager comes ahead of today’s visit of championselect Manchester City to Craven Cottage.

After thumping Arsenal in midweek, Pep Guardiola’s holders are red-hot favourites to bag their fifth Premier League crown in six years.

Victory over Fulham will put them a point ahead of Mikel Arteta’s one-time runaway leaders – having played a game less than the North Londoners.

But despite City suddenly being in the driving seat and dead-certs with the majority to finish at the summit again, Silva

(right) insists that is far from a forgone conclusion.

He said: “No, it’s not over because all of us know the Premier League. Arteta (top right) knows it and Pep knows

By it too – that all the other clubs are fighting for the Champions League, for the Europa League, and relegation battles as well.

“When we lost against Arsenal at home and it was a difficult match for us, at the end someone asked me if the title was decided... for Arsenal... at that moment.

“I think the answer then is the answer for the question now because, in football, you cannot have anything guaranteed at any time of the season – unless when mathematically things are right in your hands.”

Silva’s view gains even more substance when you consider Fulham are desperate for maximum points today – in their bid to catch local-rivals Brentford before the season concludes. If they do overhaul the Hounslow high-fliers, they will be West London’s top dogs with Chelsea struggling in 12th place.

So is he enjoying the battle to be the bigspending Blues’ noisy neighbours? Too right, he is.

He said: “I know that it’s hugely important for the fans. You can feel it. “It’s amazing for any manager and those who work with you when your fans have been so pleased and proud of your team.

“Yet if you compare yourself with your neighbours, you have to be realistic. To be ahead of Chelsea with six games to play, if you ask me, is the perfect season for Brentford and Fulham.

“But football’s like that, sometimes this type of season happens.

“I prefer to leave this for the fans to enjoy.”