Antonio Conte suggested Tottenham should be proud they are even in contention for a top-four finish heading into the final game of the season after beating Burnley 1-0 on Sunday.
Harry Kane's first-half penalty ultimately proved decisive as Spurs went fourth at least until Monday, when Arsenal go to Newcastle United.
It was by no means a vintage performance from Spurs, who came under pressure from the visitors in the second half, but the victory at least means they head into the final day of the season with a chance of clinching the last Champions League spot.
When Conte replaced Nuno Espirito Santo as coach in November, Spurs were five points behind the top four – while not necessarily an alarming gap in itself, Tottenham appeared to be in freefall at the time after losing five of their previous seven league games.
Spurs have only lost six top-flight matches since then, with Conte credited with inspiring a significant improvement across the pitch.
And given the position and form they were in back in November, Conte felt he had to commend his Spurs players for hauling themselves back into contention.
"I think first of all we had to do our task and to win and get three points and put some pressure on Arsenal," he told reporters.
"We know very well it is not easy to play against Newcastle and especially when they arrive with the new manager and in a good spell and not an easy game, but it will be the same for us in Norwich [in the final game of the season], and the last game against Everton for Arsenal.
"For sure I will watch the game because I love football and I want to watch and I want also to suffer.
"But I think it is a big achievement for the last game to have the possibility to take a place into the Champions League, because I don't forget our path since November and we will see what happens.
"I also think Arsenal did a really good job this season because they didn't play in Europe and now they have a chance to play in the Champions League."
While Sunday's performance may not have been as impressive as Thursday's north London derby win over Arsenal, the visit of Burnley took place against a backdrop of squad uncertainty.
Four players had been affected by a stomach virus ahead of the match, yet each one was either able to start or take a place on the bench, which – according to Conte – proved their commitment to the fight.
"It wasn't easy because [Saturday] morning the doctor sent me a message that a few players they felt not well and with a stomach problem, vomiting and also fever," he said. "For this reason, [Dejan] Kulusevski didn't have a training session, also [Pierluigi] Gollini, also Hugo [Lloris].
"He was not in a perfect condition today, also Winksy [Harry Winks]. Despite this we face the game in the right way and I am so happy because I have seen a team that has improved in many aspects. Now this team is ready to fight in every game."
Burnley felt aggrieved by the handball decision that allowed Kane to convert from 12 yards, with the VAR spotting the ball brush Ashley Barnes' arm in the box.
Conte had no time for their complaints, however.
"I think it was 200 per cent a penalty, not 100 per cent. It was so clear. It was very difficult to understand the complaints – if your arm is in this way and you take the ball, I think it is very, very clear, honestly."
Brighton 0-4 Manchester City: Foden at the double as champions leapfrog Liverpool
Phil Foden scored twice as Manchester City leapfrogged Liverpool and kept the Premier League title race in their own hands by thrashing Brighton 4-0.
Foden moved onto 16 league goals for the season with a first-half brace at the Amex Stadium, seeing a free-kick deflect past a wrongfooted Jason Steele before stroking home after some reckless play from the Seagulls.
De Bruyne had earlier given City the lead with what was his 68th Premier League goal but the first with his head, as Pep Guardiola's men made light of Erling Haaland's injury-enforced absence.
Julian Alvarez added a fourth as City pulled two points clear of Liverpool and within one of Arsenal with a game in hand, knowing five further wins will guarantee they retain their crown.
Brighton, meanwhile, stay in the bottom half with 44 points, having been surpassed by Bournemouth on Wednesday.
Nathan Ake could not keep his shot down when presented with the first half-chance after a low-key start, but City went ahead with a brilliant goal after 17 minutes.
Foden slipped Kyle Walker in on the right flank, and De Bruyne watched the full-back's cross all the way before sending a wonderful diving header into the top-right corner.
There was more fortune about City's second, which arrived just nine minutes later as Foden's free-kick deflected in off Pascal Gross amid Brighton complaints about how Foden won the set-piece.
Brighton only had themselves to blame when Foden got his second after 34 minutes, though. Valentin Barco conceded possession cheaply on the edge of his area, and Foden swept the loose ball into the bottom-left corner.
Ederson denied Joao Pedro as Brighton improved in the second half, but City had further daylight just after the hour mark, Walker breaking in behind and beating Steele to a loose ball, with Alvarez on hand to turn home.
Brighton were enraged when Josko Gvardiol avoided conceding a penalty for a clumsy challenge on Pedro, who skewed wide late on as City – who went close to a fifth through Jeremy Doku late on and face struggling Nottingham Forest next – claimed a statement win.
Foden's star still rising
Foden has emerged as the favourite to be crowned Premier League Player of the Season, and he has gone up a gear in the run-in, also scoring a hat-trick on his last league appearance when City thrashed Aston Villa 4-1 earlier this month.
He was in imperious form again on Thursday, even if Brighton's fans were not happy with the way he went down for the free-kick that ultimately resulted in his first goal.
That strike was Foden's 50th in the Premier League, making him just the third player to score 50 top-flight goals under Guardiola while aged 23 or younger, after Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland.
It is no wonder Brighton's fans are sick of the sight of the England man; he has eight goals in his last eight Premier League appearances against the Seagulls, more than he has scored against any other club in the competition.
Seagulls' wings clipped
Hampered by injuries to the likes of Pervis Estupinan, Kaoru Mitoma and Evan Ferguson, Brighton have seen their European hopes falter in recent weeks and now appear to be limping to the finishing line.
Roberto De Zerbi's team are winless in their last five Premier League games (two draws, three defeats) and sit six points adrift of the top seven with matches against Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Chelsea and Manchester United to come.
Brighton have even seen their supply of goals dry up, scoring just four times in eight league matches since thrashing Sheffield United 5-0 in February.
Foden matches Messi and Haaland feat with 50th league goal under Guardiola
Phil Foden equalled the feats of Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland when he scored his 50th league goal as Manchester City stormed into a 3-0 lead against Brighton.
Foden scored twice in the first half at the Amex Stadium on Thursday, setting Pep Guardiola's team on the way to a potentially pivotal win in the Premier League title race.
The England international's first, which came after Kevin De Bruyne's excellent diving header, came as his free-kick deflected in off the unfortunate Pascal Gross.
It was that goal that marked Foden's 50th in league football, with all of those coming under Guardiola.
That makes Foden just the third player to score 50 league goals under Guardiola while aged 23 or younger, after City team-mate Haaland and Barcelona great Messi.
Foden netted his 51st Premier League goal soon after, drilling in after City capitalised on some slack Brighton play.
Xavi commits U-turn and elects to stay at Barcelona
Barcelona head coach Xavi will continue in his role next season after an unexpected reversal of his decision to leave at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, according to widespread reports.
The former Barcelona midfielder announced in January that he would walk away from the job at the end of the current season, even though his contract was due to run until the end of the following term.
Xavi acknowledged the Barcelona role had taken its toll but reportedly changed his plans after a meeting with Blaugrana president Joan Laporta on Wednesday.
The 44-year-old was initially appointed as Barca coach in 2021 before leading the LaLiga giants to the top-flight title in the 2022-23 campaign.
Xavi's initial announcement of his intentions to depart Barcelona came after a tough period following defeats to Girona, Real Madrid and Athletic Club before revealing the news in the aftermath of a 5-3 loss to Villarreal.
The Blaugrana turned their fortunes around after that decision became public, though, going 13 games unbeaten across all competitions.
Unsurprisingly, that run encouraged Laporta, vice president Rafa Yuste and sporting director Deco to plead with Xavi to continue until the end of his agreed contract.
Though that undefeated streak ended with a 4-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain that dumped Barcelona out of the Champions League quarter-finals, Xavi has now agreed to stay in his role.
The league title is almost out of reach this term, however, as Real Madrid moved 11 points clear of second-placed Barca with Sunday's 3-2 Clasico victory.
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