Title: If We Lose to West Ham, Our EPL Title Hopes Will Fade Away - Guardiola Warns In a stark reminder of the task ahead, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stressed that if his team fails to overcome West Ham United at home on Saturday, their hopes of lifting the Premier League title would be severely dented. The Citizens currently trail leaders Arsenal by a daunting seven points, having dropped two crucial points against Nottingham Forest in their last outing. While City have a game in hand against their rivals and a crucial showdown at the Etihad Stadium against Arsenal in April, they cannot afford to slip up against the Hammers. West Ham's resurgence in form over the past few weeks makes them a formidable opponent for City. The East London outfit has enjoyed a five-match unbeaten run, including a notable win over Fulham away from home, and will be confident of causing an upset at the Etihad. Guardiola's team is also reeling from a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash midweek. This, coupled with the upcoming second leg at home against Real and the Carabao Cup final next week, makes City's season potentially unravel if results don't go their way. In a candid assessment, Guardiola acknowledged that City's title hopes are far from secure, stating, "The Premier League is the most difficult title. We're still there, knowing that if we drop points it will be over." It remains to be seen whether City's experience in dealing with high-pressure situations will pay off against West Ham. One thing is certain, however - a defeat to the Hammers will leave City's title aspirations hanging by a thread.