“It’s Not …” — Pep Guardiola Sends Cautious Message to Manchester City Fans After Fulham Win

Manchester City delivered a commanding 3-0 win over Fulham at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, with Pep Guardiola praising his team’s performance while refusing to get carried away with the Premier League title race.

City came into the match on the back of a dramatic late victory at Anfield against Liverpool, a game that had highlighted their resilience and ability to perform under pressure. Against Fulham, the Blues were ruthless from the outset, producing a stunning first-half display that saw goals from Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly, and Erling Haaland put the game beyond doubt.

The result cuts Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to just three points ahead of their upcoming clash with Brentford, leaving City within striking distance in what is shaping up to be a tense title run-in. Despite the victory, Guardiola was keen to emphasize that the Premier League race is far from over.

“It’s not three points,” Guardiola said via TNT Sports when asked about the gap to Arsenal. “After the game tomorrow between Arsenal and Brentford, we’ll see how many points. We are focused on ourselves first.”

City Showing Consistency After a Wobbly Start to 2026

Manchester City have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, drawing frustrating matches against Chelsea, Brighton, and Tottenham in January. However, Wednesday’s performance suggested that the tide is turning at the Etihad. Guardiola was particularly impressed with the composure and control his side showed after the interval.

“It was better than previous second-halves, I would say,” he said, highlighting City’s more assured display in the latter stages of the match. Unlike previous games, they maintained focus and created chances, demonstrating their ability to dominate for the full 90 minutes.

Defensive Partnerships and Squad Depth Praise

Guardiola also offered glowing remarks about his defensive pairing. Ruben Dias returned to the starting XI alongside January signing Marc Guehi, forming a partnership that impressed the City boss.

“I enjoyed watching them a lot! The personality, the character. I think both feel comfortable playing together. Really good!” Guardiola said, noting that their cohesion added stability to a team chasing silverware on multiple fronts.

Abdukodir Khusanov, who had been withdrawn at Anfield due to a suspected concussion, was deemed fit for the game, and Guardiola also praised his versatility: “I saw a few minutes of Khusanov in right-back, Kyle Walker-type in his prime and I know he can do that.”

Bernardo Silva’s Influence Underlined

City’s captain Bernardo Silva continues to be central to Guardiola’s plans. The manager reserved special praise for the Portuguese midfielder, emphasizing his irreplaceable contribution on and off the ball.

“He’s irreplaceable. When Bernardo is not playing, we have to play another system. First he comes to press the goalkeeper, then he helps in the build-up with Rodri. Sometimes he goes to the right – like at Anfield – to make crosses or passes to win the game. This is Bernardo,” Guardiola said.

Silva’s work ethic and technical quality remain a cornerstone of City’s style, allowing them to control games and maintain the high standards expected at the Etihad.

FA Cup and Fixture Management

City now turn their attention to the FA Cup fourth round, where they will host Salford City this weekend. Guardiola is expected to rotate his squad, keeping key players fresh for the Premier League run-in and ensuring his preferred lineup remains sharp for the most critical games of the season.

While the title race with Arsenal remains tight, Manchester City’s display against Fulham underlined their strength, depth, and resilience. Guardiola may not want to get ahead of himself, but performances like this suggest that City are more than capable of sustaining their challenge until the very end.