Sunday 2 April 2017 20:09, UK
Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Thierry Henry say Pep Guardiola does not believe Manchester City can win the Premier League this season - and has already planned sweeping changes to his squad.
City were given a chink of light in the title race when Crystal Palace won 2-1 at Chelsea on Saturday, which offered them the chance to close the gap on the leaders ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
However, they twice let a lead slip at Arsenal on Super Sunday and a 2-2 draw sees them remain in fourth position, still 10 points off the top.
Sky Sports expert Neville says the manager and players lack the belief to hunt Chelsea down.
"I think Pep has switched off in terms of thinking his team can win the league this season," he said.
"He already knows what he's going to do in the summer. I've no doubt he'll drive a bus through that back five. He needs three or four new defenders, a new goalkeeper, one or two midfield players and maybe a centre-forward.
"I think he knows exactly what he's going to do and he'll go and do it. I think he feels this season is a transition, a journey. They will stay in the Champions League places and try and win the FA Cup.
"I am disappointed, though, that they didn't think and believe today to go and really send a message. I think Chelsea will be worried about Tottenham a little bit, but they'll be more worried about Manchester City.
"But they don't believe it themselves. I don't think the players believe they can go and win the league this season and I don't think they feel it. You've got to feel it when you're hunting someone down to win the league.
"They don't, so it's not going to happen."
Fellow Sky Sports expert Henry played under Guardiola at Barcelona and has no doubt he is already looking to the future.
Henry says the Spaniard is never satisfied and will want to make improvements to launch a title charge next year.
"I think he's made his decision on some of the players," he said.
"He's still learning about the Premier League but he already knows what that team is about and I agree he will get a lot of players to come.
"He is obsessed with having the ball in midfield and controlling the midfield. That's something he likes to do.
"He doesn't look happy. He is happy, but he is never satisfied, so you can see why this season at time he has looked a bit annoyed.
"I think he has already made his mind up about what is going to happen this year. He has said not that long ago that the league is over, so I think he believes that the league is over.
"You could see that today."
