Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 7y

Gael Clichy believes Manchester City can still challenge Chelsea for title

Gael Clichy insists the Premier League title race is far from over and says Manchester City must keep the pressure on leaders Chelsea.

City are seven points behind the leaders in third after Antonio Conte's side's brilliant run of 12 successive victories, which included a 3-1 win at the Etihad earlier this month.

But Clichy believes that the quality of the sides in the Premier League means that Chelsea could quickly drop points and be caught by the rest of the title challengers.

The French defender has twice won the title during his time at City -- coming from behind on both occasions and moving top in the final weeks of the season.

"We're still in the title race," Clichy was quoted in the Daily Mirror as saying. "Seven points is a lot, it's a big gap and we won't deny that.

"We'd like to be closer or even on top. But we have seen over the years teams dropping points for fun, teams coming back into the top four after two or three games. We must take it game after game and get the points on the board. Chelsea are playing really well, as we were in the first 10 games of the season.

"We all know in football that one morning you're there and the next day you're not there anymore, so we have to be ready and take the opportunity when it comes."

Clichy, who also won the Premier League with Arsenal as a teenager in 2004, says it's getting harder to win the championship each year.

"It's definitely becoming more difficult," he said. "The game has changed in the last 10 or 15 years.

"All teams are able to attract players. Teams in the bottom half of the table are able to bring in players who are playing for their countries.

"In England, anyone can buy anyone. So even if some people say the league is not the best in terms of quality, in terms of challenge, there's no doubt the Premier League is the hardest one."

City boss Pep Guardiola won six titles in seven years at previous clubs Barcelona and Bayern Munich before arriving at the Etihad in the summer. Despite a lack of Premier League experience, Clichy says the Spaniard's record shows he knows how to win silverware.

"He has won 21 trophies -- 21! You can't question the ability of the manager," he added. "You can't question someone who has won so many trophies.

"As a player it's an honour to train with him because the sessions are unbelievable.

"I've had the chance to have many managers and he's up there with the best, if not the best. If you look at his record, it speaks for itself."

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