Guardiola waves white flag on title hopes

Mind games or not, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has all but waved the white flag on City’s hopes of securing an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title.

Following a dramatic 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace, the City boss admitted his side must shift focus after a rocky start to the season.

Despite fighting back twice in a thrilling contest, City’s ambitions took a major hit when young star Rico Lewis received a second yellow card, leaving Guardiola’s men eight points adrift of league leaders Liverpool.

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Adding to their woes, Arsenal and Chelsea could widen the gap further if they capitalize on Sunday fixtures against Fulham and Tottenham, respectively, leaving City clinging to fourth place.

“This is a season to suffer,” Guardiola admitted post-match. “We cannot talk about the title race when we lose four games in a row and draw.”

Once invincible, City’s aura of dominance appears to be cracking. A string of underwhelming results has cast doubts over whether Guardiola’s team can recover in time for a serious title push. With injuries piling up and momentum waning, the reigning champions find themselves in uncharted territory.