London: Following a decisive 3-0 victory over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola concluded his media duties with an unexpected rallying cry for a rival club: "Come on, you Irons."
The gesture highlights City's reliance on West Ham United to provide a stumbling block for league leaders Arsenal in the ongoing Premier League title pursuit. City successfully narrowed the deficit at the summit to two points after goals from Jérémy Doku, Erling Haaland, and Omar Marmoush secured the home win.
As Guardiola exited the press conference, he crossed his arms to replicate the "Hammers" salute synonymous with West Ham supporters before uttering the phrase. Arsenal is scheduled to face Nuno Espírito Santo's West Ham side on Sunday.
Reflecting on the competitive landscape, Guardiola acknowledged the quality of the opposition standing between his side and another trophy.
"We are fighting with a team in the final of the Champions League without losing a game and have been top of the league almost all season," Guardiola said. "It's not in our hands now, so it depends on them dropping points. I love it. I love to be here [in the title race] again."
The Final Stretch
The remaining schedule for both contenders remains rigorous as the season enters its final fortnight. Manchester City is slated to face Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa. Meanwhile, the Gunners must navigate fixtures against West Ham, Burnley, and Crystal Palace.
Guardiola emphasised the necessity of maintaining momentum, specifically looking ahead to their Wednesday clash with Palace and an upcoming FA Cup final.
"All we can do is Wednesday [against Palace] win again, play the final of the FA Cup and go to Bournemouth -- I'd say that is not the best one to go -- and Aston Villa, so the calendar is demanding," the City boss noted. "It's just two weeks and the season will be over."