‘Oh God’ – Ronaldo gives blunt Arsenal title prediction as Guardiola rallies ‘focused’ Man City
Cristiano Ronaldo has laughed off Arsenal’s chances of beating Manchester City to the Premier League title on the final day of the season.
Arsenal are fancied to beat Everton on Sunday but know Pep Guardiola’s side must drop points at home to West Ham United if they are to stand a chance of winning the title.
One man who is convinced the Gunners will not be lifting their first Premier League trophy in 20 years is Manchester United legend Ronaldo.
Speaking to Arsenal fan Frank Warren before Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo bluntly dismissed the Gunners’ hopes of winning the Premier League title on the final day.
Guardiola urges Man City players to seize chance to make history City will become the first English club to win four successive top-flight titles if they beat West Ham at the Etihad.
The reigning champions head into their final Premier League game of the season with a two-point cushion over Arsenal, who host Everton, and know their destiny is in their own hands.
“It is something we will not live again, none of us, it’s impossible – the chance to win four in a row. Not for any of us, in our lives, is it going to happen again.
Victory would not only secure Guardiola’s fourth title in a row but his sixth in the last seven years. He could then top off another outstanding campaign by becoming the first manager to win back-to-back domestic doubles in England next week.
Next season will be the last of his current contract and, until a decision is made about his future, speculation over his intentions will only increase. The one apparent certainty is that he has no intention of quitting this summer.
A theory has taken hold that rival clubs may have to settle for second best until Guardiola does decide to move on, but he insists he is not unbeatable.
The Spaniard said: “That’s wrong. (Look at) the margins. If every season we won by 20 points I’d say yes, I’m a genius, I’m so good, but it’s not (like that).
Guardiola will again put his faith in second-choice goalkeeper Stefan Ortega after number one Ederson was ruled out with the fractured eye socket suffered in the midweek win at Tottenham.
The German has come off the bench to take over from Ederson on four occasions this season and, after he made some critical saves to hold off Spurs, Guardiola has full trust.
He said: “Today, in modern football, you have to have two proper good keepers.
“Before it was clear (who) the first keeper and second keeper (were), the distance was so big.
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