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• Guardiola: Foden can still get better after Player of the Year award

  Pep Guardiola thinks Phil Foden can still get better, after the 23-year-old winning the Premier League’s Player of the Year.

  Foden has been a pivotal part of City’s title challenge this season, scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists in the top-flight in 2023-24.

  It is the youngster’s most prolific scoring season for City, while only six players have bettered Foden’s goal haul in the Premier League.

  When asked about the strides that Foden has made this season, leading him to the award, Guardiola praised the England international’s influence on the squad.

  "Obviously, he makes a step forward as a football player. In terms of minutes or time, but he's decisive in winning games," Guardiola said.

  "Maybe before it was a glimpse of action, but now it's consistent. That is the truth, but they still have a margin. Sometimes his game is overexcited, it's over, and you have to be more calm because his excitement he has for himself, but we'll have question of time, but this season has been really, really important. Really, really important."

  Foden has bettered his tally of 11 goals from last season and leads City’s squad for chances created this campaign with 68.

  "He's moving forward, but I had the feeling he can be better, and I think he can do it because I've said many times, that he loves football," Guardiola added.

  "He enjoys being on the pitch, and I think the feeling doesn't like when you have the day off.

  "He likes to be in the training session doing less or more and I had the feeling it still can be better."

  Manchester City can win a fourth-consecutive Premier League title on Sunday against West Ham, if they can match or better Arsenal's result.

• Guardiola: Other clubs have a chance to win the title against Man City

  Pep Guardiola believes that other clubs do have the chance to win the Premier League while he is the Manchester City manager. 

  Guardiola has led the Citizens to five top-flight titles in his seven seasons in charge, including each of the last three in a row.

  They have the opportunity to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League campaign – they must match or better Arsenal’s result on the final day against West Ham to finish top of the table.

  Asked what he thought about the narrative that suggested other teams struggle to win the title while he is at City, Guardiola immediately brushed the idea aside.

  He said: "It is wrong, look at the margin. If every season I won by 20 points, then I would say yes I am a genius, I'm so good, but it's not.

  "The Premier League we won against Liverpool they could have won. Arsenal can win, we can win. It's like that.

  "My judgement about the team, about how we behave, nothing changed, nothing changed. My opinion of Liverpool this year has not changed, whether they have won or not won.

  "I know here there is just a prize for the winners and the winners smell good and everyone won a copy and everything, but it's not.

  "It's not the case because behind of arriving here in the last press conference of the season before the last game of the Premier League there are a lot of work, like Liverpool was and Arsenal have been this season."

  Guardiola was also quick to highlight the hard work of everybody at the club during their title challenge.

  "It's not because of what we have done in the past gives you this season, it's completely the opposite," he continued. 

  "There are a lot of work for all departments. How many my backroom staff, the medical department, the physio department, how they care all the seasons, every single few, few injuries.

  "Injuries are always there, but the balance is ridiculous, how good it is, and that's because there is a lot of work, they care about the players and the people, you know, every single day, hours and hours being above the players, you have to do this, you have to do this, you have to do this to be fit. So otherwise, we cannot be where we are."

  The City manager was also asked about his future at the club, and whether he would be continuing past the end of the season.

  "Yeah, I have a contract. I want to be here next season, yes," he added. 

• Forest 'still have to finish the job' against Burnley, says Nuno

  Nuno Espirito Santo insists Nottingham Forest “still have to finish the job” of securing their Premier League safety when they face Burnley at Turf Moor.

  Three points clear of 18th-place Luton Town in 17th, Forest are all but safe from relegation, while it would take an unlikely 12-goal swing in the Hatters’ favour to usurp them.

  Nevertheless, Nuno is not taking anything for granted and has called for focus from his players, who he saluted for their efforts throughout the campaign. 

  "We still have to finish the job," he said. "But credit to the players because it was not an easy season. We have always been able to compete really well in games. 

  "The feeling is always that we should have been better. We have never felt that someone beat us; it was just that we let games get away from us.

  "Yes, in certain games we have been punished, but we have always been a team that wants to attack and score. That is part of our identity.

  "There is still a game to go, and we know how football can go. It is best that we prepare the same way with commitment. We are clear about everything that can happen. It is up to us to achieve what we want."

  Meanwhile, Burnley are preparing for life back in the Championship, with their immediate return secured after last weekend’s defeat at Tottenham.

  And Vincent Kompany says the match marks the first step towards the Clarets' recovery from their disappointment.

  "If we're treating this as the first game of next season, in terms of preparing for next season, then this game is an important game," he said.

  "You only really fail if you fail to learn and that's not the case for us. We've absolutely learned. There is no lack of motivation, no lack of desire. 

  "It's sometimes in human nature to sit down and sulk, to feel sorry for yourself. That is not in the culture here, it's not in my nature, the nature of many people here. 

  "We try to give that to the players – that's ultimately what is going to give them a chance to achieve their goals."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Burnley – Dara O'Shea

  O'Shea has been directly involved in two of the last three goals Burnley have scored at Turf Moor (one goal, one assist).

  The defender will look to build on that against a Forest side that has conceded 23 goals from set-pieces this season, with only three teams ever letting more in during a single Premier League campaign.

  Nottingham Forest – Chris Wood

  Wood is the highest scorer in Burnley’s Premier League history, having netted 49 times for the Clarets in the competition between 2017 and 2022.

  The striker will aim to become the fifth player to score a Premier League goal against Burnley having previously played for them in the division, after Andre Gray, Danny Ings, Michael Keane and Patrick Bamford.

  MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

  Forest are without a win in each of their last six league meetings with Burnley since a 2-0 victory in December 2012, with four of those ending in a draw.

  The Tricky Trees have failed to win their final league game in each of the last four seasons, since beating Bolton Wanderers 1-0 in 2018-19.

  Meanwhile, Burnley have lost their final Premier League game in each of their last six campaigns at this level.

  The Clarets have also won only twice at home this season. Failure to win here would mean this is the fewest wins they have ever recorded in front of their fans in a single campaign.

  Kompany’s side will need to tighten up in order to avoid that, though, having conceded at least once in each of their last 19 Premier League matches.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Burnley: 35.9%
  Nottingham Forest: 34.8%
  Draw: 29.3%