Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City will need to win all their remaining games to claim the Premier League title after moving top on Wednesday.
Erling Haaland scored the only goal as City continued their recent charge to hit the summit with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Burnley, who were consequently relegated.
It is the first time City have led the table since August and, with five games to play, they appear to be timing their run perfectly.
Yet their lead over Arsenal is slender, on goals scored only, and with the Gunners in action twice before City’s next league outing, Guardiola recognises the pressure is still firmly on.
The Spaniard said: “Now we have the FA Cup on Saturday and after that we have five games. The only chance is to win all the games.”
Haaland also hit a post and Rayan Cherki had an effort deflected on to the woodwork but Burnley, battling to delay their return to the second tier after a single season in top flight, fought to the end.
Guardiola felt his players performed well so soon after Sunday’s victory over title rivals Arsenal.
He said: “It was such a demanding game on Sunday. It is not easy after three days, but in the Premier League you have to adjust.
“Winning is the main target and, considering the last three days and the emotion and physicality in the game we played, we made an extraordinary game.
“With the chances we created we could have scored more goals, but the important thing is winning every game. Five games in the Premier League – we see what happens.”
With the race so close, Guardiola admitted he would have liked to have improved the goal difference.
He said: “Yes, we had chances – but we have to win the games. It was clear, clear, clear.
“We did not have ‘umph’ in the last part of the shots and sometimes that’s the fatigue. I had the feeling if we scored at 2-0 it would be more relaxed and we could be more composed in the final third.”
City’s attention now turns to Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton at Wembley and Guardiola will consider making changes.
“Now we have to think about it a lot because I had a lot of doubts about the line-up today because of the fatigue,” he added.
“Now it will be three in a row in three days, go to London. I have to think about it.”
