Pep Guardiola claims title race not over for Manchester City despite draw

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guardiola-pep/hxNijWrJ/"]Pep Guardiola[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/nottingham-UsushcZr/?mid=jHyOcnOk"]side twice squandered the lead at the Etihad Stadium[/a] as goals from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/semenyo-antoine/r1Gz1yPk/"]Antoine Semenyo[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rodri/K0G8DB00/"]Rodri[/a] were cancelled out by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gibbs-white-morgan/beZNT1bB/"]Morgan Gibbs-White[/a] and then [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anderson-elliott/KdYCbsbE/"]Elliot Anderson[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/savinho/faynRsvT/"]Savinho[/a] had a shot cleared off the line by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/murillo/40Vyq1xR/"]Murillo[/a] with the last kick of the game to compound [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]City[/a]'s frustration.[/p][p]Their failure to kill off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nottingham/UsushcZr/"]Forest[/a] was bad enough but the news from the south coast was even worse as a 1-0 win for leaders [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brighton/2XrRecc3/"]Brighton[/a] left the title race out of City's control.[/p][p]Arsenal are now seven points clear of City and have the destiny of the title in their hands as they chase their first English crown since 2004.[/p][p]City have a game in hand on the Gunners, who visit the Etihad in April but Guardiola will rue another game in which his side lost control in the second half.[/p][embed guid="4b4172c9-4643-48a1-bd9d-a630ee7c3503" url="https://x.com/TouchlineX/status/2029318840669139436?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Not for the first time this season, City slipped up in the second half, taking the total number of points dropped from winning positions this season to 13.[/p][p]But Guardiola is adamant City can still overhaul Arsenal in their last nine games.[/p][p]"[b]Still many games to play, them (Arsenal) one less,[/b]" Guardiola said.[/p][p]"[b]There are games where we don't deserve it. Today we played in general good for 90 minutes.[/b][/p][p]"[b]It's not about this action or that action. In general, when we analyse the game, the game was well played[/b]."[/p][p]Guardiola would not be drawn on a penalty claim for City late in the game when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/haaland-erling/UmV9iQmE/"]Haaland[/a] went down after knocking the ball past Forest goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sels-matz/Qqo54dB7/"]Mats Sels[/a], with the decision cleared by VAR.[/p][p]"[b]Always I believe we have to do it much better to make sure the officials don't intervene,[/b]" Guardiola said.[/p][p]"[b]It's our responsibility to be better. If we have to rely on them it's impossible. Nothing more to say.[/b][/p][p]"[b]In the end we created a lot against a team that is really defensive.[/b][/p][p]"[b]We were dynamic. We missed maybe more contact with Erling (Haaland), his incredible movements, we have to look for him a bit more, but in general it was well played.[/b]"[/p][p]The momentum in the title race is now firmly with Arsenal, but Guardiola's attention is switching to this weekend's FA Cup fifth round clash with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-utd/p6ahwuwJ/"]Newcastle[/a] before a Champions League last 16 first leg against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a].[/p][p]"[b]The feeling is we have one game less to play,[/b]" Guardiola said when asked about the title race.[/p][p]"[b]Now it is Newcastle, always the thought is about what's next.[/b]"[/p]