Premier League legend Alan Shearer is adamant Manchester City could still win the title ahead of their crunch clash with rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Blues boss Pep Guardiola publicly threw the towel in when he told the world his side were out of the title race following last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Everton, as reported by the likes of The Guardian.
City have also been widely written off by pundits, rival supporters and even some of their own fans after a rollercoaster start to life under the Spaniard.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
Indeed many are predicting the Citizens will even struggle to make the Champions League places if their inconsistent form continues, particularly given the added competition in the top flight this season.
But Premier League legend Alan Shearer told Coral he remains convinced that if any side is capable of overhauling leaders Chelsea and holding off the challenge of Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs, it is City, however unlikely it may be.
“Pep Guardiola came out after the Everton defeat and said his side were out of the title hunt, but I don’t suspect for a minute that he means that,” Shearer told Coral.
Premier League legend and all-time top scorer Alan Shearer
“He’ll still be saying to his squad that if they go on a run of seven or eight victories, they are in with a chance. If someone was to ask me can Chelsea lose three or four games from now until the end of the season, the answer would be yes they could. In the big matches, the top six clubs can takes points off each other.
“However, it’s unlikely that City can win the league as it is very rare that a team who has won the title has conceded the goals they have… and if City continue to defend like they did against Everton, they have absolutely no chance of winning the title.”
Spurs, who City entertain in a crunch clash at the Etihad on Saturday evening, are now many people’s second favourites to catch London rivals Chelsea and lift a first league title in over half a century.
Shearer may have a point given that Guardiola’s side – despite their inconsistency and the period of adjustment the side is going through – are just three points behind second placed Spurs albeit with an inferior goal difference.
Win against them on Saturday and as Shearer says Guardiola could well be ruling his side back in the hunt.
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