Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has labeled Sunday's Premier League match against leaders Arsenal as a 'final', stating that defeat would end his side's title hopes. City trails Arsenal by six points but has a game in hand, and a victory would narrow the gap while intensifying pressure as the title race enters its decisive phase.

Guardiola emphasized the high stakes in a press conference: "Yes, obviously, if we lose, it is over." He highlighted the critical role of confidence at this stage of the season, remarking, "If you could buy confidence in a supermarket, we would buy it immediately. It is one of the most important aspects." City's recent form, including a 2-0 League Cup final win over Arsenal, underscores their resilience and momentum.

The manager confirmed that Nico O'Reilly is fit after an injury and acknowledged that Arsenal's Mikel Arteta may adjust tactics. Guardiola focused on the individual battles within the game: "In the end, it is more simple. It is how your players individually win the me-against-you." He stressed that while recent performances have had flaws, such as slow starts against Chelsea and Liverpool, maintaining belief is key to success.

Guardiola called for improvement, noting, "We need to get even better. The first half against Chelsea was not bad but not great." Despite the potential decisiveness of Sunday's outcome, he expressed pride in City's ability to compete on multiple fronts, concluding, "It is never over until it's over, and we are still here. I am proud to be there, still challenging them."

Source: www.aljazeera.com