Pep Guardiola has cautioned his Manchester City players that a stunning defeat to Leicester on Saturday may destroy their Premier League title chances.
Guardiola's team faces the second-worst team in the league. Leicester knows that a win would cut the distance between them and leaders Arsenal to three points.
But City manager Pep Guardiola is confident Arsenal will not slip up again after a 2-2 draw at Liverpool last weekend gave the champions renewed optimism of a fifth title in six seasons.
On Sunday, Arsenal travels across London to face struggling West Ham, with Guardiola expecting Mikel Arteta's side to punish any slip-up by second-placed City against Leicester.
Did you read this?
"Everyone understands that if we lose games, we lose competitions." That's why we're paying more attention to minutiae," Guardiola remarked on Friday.
"It's the same tomorrow -- if we lose, we're not champions." We might still be there if we win.
"But we must not forget that we are six points behind Arsenal, a team that has dropped few points this season and has one game per week, with plenty of time for recovery, analysis, and preparation."
"It's challenging if you drop points." That is why you must be present as much as possible."
While Arsenal has only eight league games left this season, City is still seeking a treble.
They will defend a 3-0 advantage against Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, then face Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-finals before visiting Arsenal in a critical league match on April 26.
Guardiola's team has dealt well with demanding schedules in the past, and he expects to do so again.
Thanks to Erling Haaland's record-breaking goal streak, the City is peaking at the right time, with nine consecutive victories in all competitions.
Kevin De Bruyne's creative ability has also significantly influenced City's rise. However, Guardiola was forced to deny having a problem with the Belgian after he appeared frustrated after being substituted against Bayern on Tuesday.
