Pep Guardiola declared that "history is in front of us" as he readied his Manchester City squad for a potentially difficult game on Tuesday against Tottenham, which could ultimately determine the Premier League title's destination.
City is one point behind leaders Arsenal, but, more importantly, they have a game in hand as they aim to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive top-flight English league championship.
In the final game of the season, which takes place on Sunday when Arsenal hosts Everton, City can win the championship if they defeat Spurs.
With 28 goals scored and just five goals allowed in their last seven Premier League games, Guardiola's team is rapidly approaching the finish line.
Did you read this?
However, the City manager refuted the notion that the race was practically over, stating that he was enjoying the intense championship run-in.
"Fifteen goals (in four matches) is fine, it gave us the points to be here but it doesn't give you an extra thing for tomorrow when you start the game," Guardiola told Monday's pre-match press conference.
"The mindset is easy, in terms of if we don't win we are not going to win the Premier League and this is what we have to do."
Despite winning there in the FA Cup in January, City has never triumphed in a league game or even scored a goal at Tottenham's brand-new stadium, which opened in 2019.
Guardiola claimed that his team had performed well on the field "many times" despite their dismal record there.
"But to do something in this country that has never been done before you have to do something special, exceptional I would say," he continued.
"In the Premier League, it has never occurred. This is the time we must do it. We must acknowledge that we have not accomplished what history has in front of us. Now is the moment to act, or Arsenal will win the title."
Although Aston Villa's victory over Liverpool later on Monday would put an end to Spurs' hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season, Guardiola expressed his "huge respect" for Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou.