Man City Faces Intense Pressure On Final Day To Secure Premier League Title

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City will experience pressure akin to serving for the Wimbledon title as they aim to secure the Premier League crown on the final day of the season. The Citizens moved closer to a record-breaking fourth consecutive top-flight title with a 2-0 victory over Tottenham on Tuesday.

Erling Haaland scored twice in the second half, propelling City to the top of the table and two points clear of Arsenal with one match remaining. Guardiola's team, who will host West Ham at the Etihad Stadium on the final day, are strong favourites to clinch the title, with Opta giving them an 84.3 per cent chance of winning the league.

However, Guardiola acknowledges that it is not a guaranteed outcome and expects a challenging match. "The tennis players say 'the serve to win Wimbledon', the last game is the most difficult one," he told BBC Sport. "We know what we're playing for. The tension is there."

Guardiola highlighted past instances where City had to dig deep to secure victories. "Look at Aston Villa a few seasons ago, 2-0 down with 15 minutes to go. Sergio Aguero against QPR, went to 93 minutes. It is normal," he said.

He also noted that pressure affected their performance against Tottenham in the first half. "The players were playing for the consequences of the result," he told reporters in his news conference. "When you do that, you are going to lose the Premier League. You cannot perform to your level."

Guardiola understands that his players are human and susceptible to pressure. "Not even Arsenal played well against Manchester United [the Gunners' 1-0 win at Old Trafford]. They knew if they did not win there, they would not win the Premier League," he added.

The Spaniard emphasised the importance of staying calm and focused. "That is why we talk and say everyone has to relax, and do what they have to do," he concluded.