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Rob Dawson, Correspondent
Pep Guardiola has told his Manchester City players to take their chance to make history remain on course for a record fourth successive Premier League title by beating Tottenham Hotspur.
Guardiola said his team have to win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday otherwise “Arsenal will be champions.”
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Victory would give City the chance to claim a fourth straight title when they play West Ham at the Etihad Stadium on the final day of the season — something that has never been achieved before in English football history.
“In the beginning of the season, we didn’t think about the four Premier Leagues,” Guardiola told a news conference on Monday. “If we are in February, March, April and we are still there, we can still do it, after that ignites something In all our heads that says guys no team has done it. That shows you how hard it is.
“Liverpool in the 1980s, Sir Alex Ferguson’s United in the 1990s, Chelsea with [Roman] Abramovich and Jose [Mourinho] and Arsenal with [Arsene] Wenger didn’t do it, so if it’s not been done it’s difficult. It’s as simple as that.”
Tottenham have won their last four Premier League home games against City without conceding a single goal. Spurs need points to ensure they qualify for Europe next season, but there have been suggestions some of their fans would rather lose to City and dent Arsenal’s title hopes.
Guardiola, however, said he’s expecting Tottenham to be at their best and any accusation they could drop their level would “offend” manager Ange Postecoglou.
“I give you my advice, don’t ask this question to Ange or the players,” said the City manager. “Don’t ask them, they’d be offended. He will be offended. I never imagined one player or a manager who didn’t prepare a game to win it. Maybe they have a chance to qualify for the Champions League.
“Of course, your rival is your rival, but when you see your team you want to play good, they will be at their best, I’m pretty sure of that.”