Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola has revealed that he is willing to lose the game against Manchester United so far he wins the English Premier League.
Speaking ahead of the derby at the Etihad Stadium, the Spaniard said City, who will be without defender Ruben Dias for up to six weeks, need to win “almost all the games” they have left to be champions.
“If we lose this game and win the Premier League, I would sign for that right now,” added the City boss.
“It’s not the cup where you lose and it’s over. We have to try to do what we can, but I don’t look at the table and them [United] being 19 points behind. I see them as a good side and that’s all.”
Pep Guardiola’s leaders are three points clear of nearest rivals, Liverpool, after the Reds’ 1-0 win against West Ham on Saturday.
If City lose on Sunday, Liverpool would have the chance to go top of the Premier League next weekend, when they play on Saturday and their rivals do not play until Monday.
With 11 games left, United have 47 points – 19 fewer than City’s 66 – and are fourth in the table with a two-point cushion over fifth-placed West Ham, but Arsenal are a place further back and have three games in hand on United.
For all that City have been Manchester’s dominant force over the past decade, they have not had too much to celebrate when hosting United in recent seasons, with the red half of Manchester winning 11 of their 21 games against the Blues at the stadium they moved to from Maine Road in 2003.
Guardiola’s side have lost their past three league and cup home games against United.
City’s most recent home win over United was November 2018, although they did beat their neighbours at Old Trafford this season.
