Pep Guardiola admits battle with Arsenal in Premier League title race is 'dream come true'

Pep Guardiola is living the dream as his Manchester City side chase their fourth consecutive Premier League title. He's preparing to face a Nottingham Forest side that feels wronged and is ready for a fight, while leaders Arsenal face a battle of their own against North London neighbours Tottenham.

Last season Guardiola led his team to a treble, but he had concerns about whether they could maintain their relentless chase for trophies this term.

The current champions are in control of their fate as they gear up for their last five Premier League matches, starting on Sunday afternoon at what is expected to be a hostile City Ground.

«Of course the teams, especially ours, are tired — it's normal at the end of the season,» Guardiola admitted. «But at the same time, it's so exciting. Fighting again for the Premier League is a dream come true.

»I could not expect it, honestly. I know the dream was to be there but what happened in the past, I thought this season I might not be able to do it."

Guardiola remarked on the challenges of maintaining peak performance levels throughout a long season, stating: «Chelsea was the real proof. We played in difficult conditions. We were not ready to compete against them but we did it.»

«We played good? No. We were stable? No. But we found a way to win.»

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«Sometimes when you play 60, 65 games a season, people say, 'ah, you're not playing like the previous games'. What do you expect? It's impossible to play at the highest level all the time. Impossible.

»The important thing is when you're not in your highest