Kylian Mbappe congratulated Lionel Messi after his Paris Saint-Germain team-mate beat him to the FIFA Best Men's Player award.
Superstar Messi earned the prestigious individual accolade for the second time in his career, with the announcement made at Monday's ceremony in Paris.
The award spanned from the start of the 2021-22 season through to the end of the World Cup in Qatar, where Messi captained Argentina to victory over Mbappe's France in a memorable final in December.
Messi scored seven goals and provided three assists at the tournament to scoop the Golden Ball prize, while Mbappe also had 10 goal involvements and finished as top scorer.
Additionally, Messi scored 11 goals and claimed three assists from 18 games for PSG at the start of this campaign.
Mbappe was second in the voting ahead of Real Madrid star Karim Benzema.
Posting on Instagram after the ceremony, Mbappe wrote: "Another trophy at home. Big congratulations to @leomessi you are #TheBest."
Messi and Mbappe combined for all three goals as PSG defeated Marseille 3-0 in Ligue 1 last time out. The duo now have 10 goal combinations this season, the most in Europe's top-five leagues.
PSG, who are eight points clear at the top of Ligue 1, host Nantes next before travelling to Bayern Munich for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie where they are aiming to overturn a 1-0 deficit.
Erik ten Hag is putting in the right building blocks to get Manchester United challenging for the biggest honours once again but it is too soon to declare the Red Devils are back, says Andrew Cole.
United earned their first piece of major silverware in six years by beating Newcastle United 2-0 in Sunday's EFL Cup final at Wembley, with first-half goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford enough to seal victory.
It is the latest tick in a first season of positives under Ten Hag, whose side still harbour trophy ambitions in the FA Cup and Europa League, while a Premier League title charge is not out of the question, albeit they trail leaders Arsenal by eight points.
Red Devils legend Cole, part of the famous 1999 treble-winning United side, acknowledged the upward trajectory Ten Hag has the club on but cautioned there is still a long way to go to bridge the gap to rivals Manchester City, who have won the title in four of the past five seasons and are only two points adrift of the Gunners this time around.
"We need to remember a lot of teams [used to] disregard the League Cup, now the League Cup has become a big competition," Cole told Stats Perform.
"I'm very, very happy obviously we won the League Cup and with Ten Hag, but let's put things into perspective here, it's his first season. We've got to be very honest, we know there's a big gap between ourselves and Manchester City.
"We can talk about at the present moment there's only five points difference but if we look at the whole of the last few seasons we've not been close.
"So, I'm not going to look at this year and say 'we're back'. It's fantastic that we've had the opportunity to win the cup, but I think we're still a little bit away. If we keep improving like we are at the moment it won't be too much longer."
Cole, who scored 121 goals in 275 appearances for United, believes the EFL Cup triumph is only part of the process to getting the club challenging regularly for league titles once again.
"I was sitting here watching the game and hoping that this is the start of something new," he added.
"To win the league you've got to be the best team for 38 games. So that's the process, that takes time, that's not going to take you one or two years, it's going to take a little bit longer.
"If you look at for instance, Manchester City, they've won the League Cup numerous times, then they've gone on to win the league numerous times.
"I think he's [Ten Hag] building blocks. If you look at his building blocks, obviously Manchester United are in a position where they've won the League Cup. But let's build on that. Get from now to the end of the season finished in the Champions League spot. And then you go next season.
"I'm not going to sit and say Manchester United are going to win the league next season. I know how difficult that's going to be. Just because we won the League Cup this season I don't believe we're going to win the Premier League next season by 15 points. No, it doesn't quite happen like that, everything is a process."
United have had plenty of false dawns since legendary manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, with the likes of Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all ultimately falling short in their attempts to restore past glories – even though the two former coaches did win trophies.
Cole believes Ten Hag can lean on Ferguson for advice but ultimately step out of his shadow.
"I think with Ten Hag we all know he's got a pinch on the game and how he wants to run the football club, he's very good with discipline," he said.
"From the outside looking in, I could say possibly that's what Ten Hag is doing at Manchester United - leaning on Sir Alex Ferguson for his knowledge.
"But at some stage you're going to look at things and address things in a totally different way. So, I think to take it on board that Sir Alex Ferguson is there and he's going to be there period.
"There's no point to try to fight against him because I think when people try and fight against it then it seems to cause more problems than anything else, it seems like they've got a very good relationship which is only a positive thing."
Chelsea have continued to struggle in recent weeks despite their busy transfer activity during the January window.
The Blues have failed to score in their past three games, all defeats, and won only once in their past 11 games in all competitions.
Chelsea have only scored four goals in those 11 games this calendar year, with the situation putting pressure on new manager Graham Potter.
TOP STORY – CHELSEA TO TURN TO TAMMY
Chelsea could turn to former striker Tammy Abraham from Roma in the off-season, according to Football Insider.
There is a £70.5million (€80m) clause in Abraham's Roma contract that would allow the Blues to bring him back to Stamford Bridge which they intend to trigger, according to the report.
Chelsea have struggled for goals lately and view Abraham as a cheaper alternative to Napoli's Victor Osimhen.
ROUND-UP
– L'Equipe reports Kylian Mbappe will still leave Paris Saint-Germain in the near future even if he extends his contract. Mbappe's deal expires next year, but there is talk that PSG are looking to seal an extension for financial purposes.
– Arsenal have submitted a £35m (€40m) bid to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio, claims Calciomercato. Fichajes says the Gunners are also interested in West Ham's Lucas Paqueta as another midfield option.
– Real Madrid will rival Barcelona and Chelsea in the pursuit to sign Inter midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, reports Corriere dello Sport.
– Barcelona are interested in signing Julian Alvarez from Manchester City on loan, claims Mundo Deportivo, while the English champions have offered him a one-year contract extension until 2028 on improved terms, according to Fabrizio Romano.
– Liverpool's plans to overhaul their midfield next season mean they have Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham, Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat and Brighton and Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo in their sights, per Fichajes.
– Football Insider reports Liverpool are also monitoring N'Golo Kante's situation at Chelsea with talks ongoing over a contract extension.
Grenades FC, Old Road and Tryum were among the winners as action continued in the ABFA Premier League at the ABFA Technical Centre in Pynter.
On Friday, Grenades beat Swetes 2-0 through goals from Carl Osbourne in the 58th minute and Barrington Blake in the 88th minute.
There were three matches played on Saturday.
Old Road secured a 4-0 win over Liberta Blackhawks in the day’s first game. Raheem Deterville led the charge with a hat-trick. His goals came in the 10th, 56th and 73rd minutes. Jonathan Shoy scored their other goal in the 62nd minute.
The most exciting game of the week came when Tryum and All Saints United played out a seven-goal thriller, with Tryum coming out on top 4-3.
Zafique Drew gave All Saints United the lead in the eighth minute before an Escalliere Bennett own goal in the 11th minute levelled proceedings.
Tryum went ahead on the stroke of half-time through Eliot Donawa. Nine minutes after the second half resumption, Blake Thompson scored the second own goal of the game, this time to All Saints United’s benefit to make in 2-2.
A 65th minute penalty from Chevel Cunningham helped Tryum regain the advantage before, five minutes later, Leroy Graham scored for All Saints United to make it 3-3. The winning goal came in the 76th minute when Cunningham scored his second of the game.
The day’s third encounter saw goals from Malcolm Stewart in the 21st minute and Tevaughn Harriette in the 87th minute helped Parham beat SAP 2-1. Kevon Samuel got SAP’s goal in the 35th minute.
Sunday, Piggot’s Bullets and Ottos Rangers played out a 1-1 draw. Akeem Isaac got the goal for the Bullets in the 39th minute while Josue Arias got the Rangers’ equalizer in the 72nd minute.
Five Islands and Greenbay Hoppers played out a dramatic 1-1 draw in the day’s second match. Tony Sanchez gave Five Islands the lead in the 16th minute before Jordan Riley scored a dramatic equalizer for the Hoppers in the 91st minute.
Empire got a 2-0 win over Cedar Grove Blue Jays in Sunday’s final game. Rakeem Joseph (62’) and Jayvaughn Joseph (75’) got the goals.
Willikies FC and FC Aston Villa will close out week 13 on Monday.
After 13 rounds, Grenades FC are top of the table with 33 points, two points ahead of All Saints FC in second and five ahead of FC Aston Villa in third.
Alexia Putellas has been crowned the Best FIFA Women's Player, denying England's female representatives a clean sweep at Monday's ceremony.
Sarina Wiegman and Mary Earps had earlier been crowned the Best FIFA Women's Coach and the Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper respectively following England's Euro 2022 success on home soil last year.
But Beth Mead, the Euro 2022 Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot winner, missed out to Barcelona and Spain midfielder Putellas.
Putellas, who won the Primera Division with Barcelona in 2021-22 but missed the Euros with an ACL injury, is now a two-time winner of the award after also coming out on top last year.
"If you have a dream and fight for it as hard as you can, you can achieve that dream," Putellas said upon collecting the award. "The most important thing is to enjoy yourself along the way."
San Diego Wave and United States forward Alex Morgan was the other candidate in the running to land the award.
Putellas, Mead and Morgan all appeared in the FIFPro Women's World 11, although Earps missed out to Christiane Endler.
England also had Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson and Keira Walsh in the team.
Lionel Messi, Lionel Scaloni and Emiliano Martinez made it a clean sweep for Argentina in Monday's glitzy ceremony for the Best FIFA Awards in Paris.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Messi was crowned the Best FIFA Men's Player, Scaloni took the the Best FIFA Men's Coach and Martinez the Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper.
The award period spans between the start of the 2021-22 season through to the end of the 2022 World Cup, which saw Argentina end their 36-year wait to win the competition.
Martinez, who plies his club trade for Aston Villa, finished ahead of Thibaut Courtois and Yassine Bounou of Real Madrid and Sevilla respectively in the voting – although Courtois made the cut for the FIFPro Men's World 11.
Scaloni was next to pick up an award after seeing off competition from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who won a LaLiga and Champions League double last season.
La Albiceleste have lost just one of their 23 games since the start of last season, with their solitary loss coming in their opening Qatar 2022 group game against Saudi Arabia.
Messi made it three from three for Argentina by claiming the top prize at the ceremony in the French capital, which started with a poignant tribute to Brazil great Pele.
Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Messi's PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe had also been in the running for the award.
Argentina's fans also claimed the FIFA Fan Award.
Their domination on the men's side was not quite matched by European champions England in the women's prizes.
While Argentina dominated the men's side of the voting, it was a clean sweep for England in the women's side of things.
Mary Earps was named the Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper and Sarina Wiegman took the Best FIFA Women's Coach award for a third time.
But Beth Mead was pipped to the Best FIFA Women's Player accolade by Alexia Putellas, last year's winner.
Other winners included Luka Lochoshvili, then of Austrian side Wolfsberger, in the FIFA Fair Play Award category for potentially saving the life of opponent Georg Teigl during a game after the Austria Vienna player fell unconscious mid-match.
Polish amputee footballer Marcin Oleksy won the FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal for his perfectly executed bicycle kick for Warta Poznan against Stal Rzeszow.
Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina forward Lionel Messi has won the Best FIFA Men's Player award for a second time.
Messi saw off competition from club-mate Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema to collect the award at Monday's ceremony in Paris.
The award spans the period between the start of the 2021-22 season through to the end of the World Cup, which saw Messi end Argentina's 36-year wait to win the competition.
Former Barcelona superstar Messi claimed the Golden Ball award in Qatar – given to the best player of the tournament – after scoring seven goals and assisting three more.
Those 10 direct goal involvements were matched by Mbappe, who finished as top scorer, but that was not enough to see the France forward win his first Best FIFA award.
Messi made a slow start to life at PSG by his own personal high standards, scoring 11 goals and assisting 14 in 34 games in his maiden campaign at the Parc des Princes.
However, the 35-year-old – who has also won a record seven Ballons d'Or – matched those figures in his first 18 games this season ahead of the World Cup.
Messi, who previously won the Best FIFA award in 2019, joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski as two-time winners, having also finished as a runner-up three times.
Lionel Messi has been named the Best FIFA Men's Player.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar and Barcelona great won the award for the second time, beating club-mate Kylian Mbappe and last year's Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema to the prize.
With the award spanning the time between August 8, 2021 and December 18 last year – from the start of last season to the end of the World Cup – Messi's success in Qatar ultimately gave him the edge.
Using Opta data, Stats Perform looks at Messi's crowning year.
Starting slow in Paris
It has not all been rosy for Messi over the course of the last 18 months.
Barca's inability to renew his contract led to Messi swapping Camp Nou for the Parc des Princes and forming a mouth-watering front trio with Mbappe and Neymar.
Yet it took some time for him to click into gear in France.
Messi finished the 2021-22 Ligue 1 season with six goals, his lowest tally in a league campaign since his breakthrough at Barcelona in the 2005-06 season.
He underperformed his expected goals total of 10.1 by just over four, suggesting he was not finishing chances he would have been expected to, while he only netted once in his first 12 Ligue 1 matches. He was also slightly unfortunate, hitting the woodwork on 11 occasions.
Yet Messi did create – he tallied 14 assists in Ligue 1 alone, creating 63 chances. Having Mbappe and Neymar alongside him no doubt helped (his xA was 9.0), but he ultimately finished with 20 goal contributions in France's top tier.
Messi had more luck in the Champions League, scoring five goals in seven appearances, slightly outperforming his non-penalty xG (three goals from 2.4 npxG).
Back at his best
Any teething issues Messi experienced last season have been swiftly forgotten this term.
Indeed, in the run-up to the World Cup, Messi had already contributed to 25 goals (11 goals, 14 assists) in 18 appearances for PSG across all competitions.
None of Messi's goals came from the penalty spot, topping his npxG of 9.5.
Heading to Qatar, Messi had contributed to more PSG goals than either Mbappe or Neymar (24 each) in fewer matches.
Messi's shot conversion rate (14.9 per cent) was lower than Mbappe's 23.5 and Neymar's 27.1, but he had completed more dribbles (55) and created chances with a greater combined xA (8.6) than either.
It took time, but the signs were scary for Argentina's opponents heading into the World Cup, and it's that tournament that has inevitably given him the edge for these awards.
On top of the world... at last
The one criticism that could have been levelled at Messi previously was that the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner had not managed to transfer his form to the international stage.
After winning the Copa America in 2021, Messi ended that argument in emphatic fashion in Qatar, channelling his inner Diego Maradona as, like the great man in 1986, he dragged Argentina to glory at a World Cup.
The 35-year-old scored seven goals, including two in the final, and provided three assists to claim the Golden Ball award, although of course it is the main prize that will matter the most to him.
Messi became the first player to net in the group stage, the last 16, the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and the final – albeit Jairzinho scored in every game Brazil played in 1970 before the introduction of the round of 16.
Messi and Jairzinho are two of five players in World Cup history to have found the net in six separate games at one finals, with the other three (Just Fontaine, Salvatore Schillaci and Davor Suker) boosting their numbers in the third-place play-off.
He also matched Schillaci in scoring the first goal in five different matches.
Messi topped the charts for shots attempted (32), chances created from open play (17) and fouls won (22).
Real Madrid goalkeeper Lucas Canizares has signed a new deal with the LaLiga giants.
Canizares is yet to play a senior game for Madrid, but he has been named among their substitutes 10 times this season and was part of their Club World Cup-winning squad.
The 20-year-old, who is the son of former Madrid and Spain keeper Santi Canizares, finds himself behind Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin in the pecking order.
He was reportedly close to leaving the club in January in order to seek regular football, but he confirmed on his Instagram page on Monday that a new contract had been signed.
"I'm very happy to expand my link with Real Madrid," Canizares said. "Eager to return with work the trust deposited. Let's go!"
Lionel Scaloni is set to lead Argentina into the 2026 World Cup after signing a new deal with La Albiceleste.
Scaloni, with more than a helping hand from Lionel Messi, guided Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar last year.
It was Argentina's third world title but their first since 1986, when Diego Maradona starred in Mexico.
Messi, with seven goals and three assists, was the driving force in 2022, as Scaloni scooped his second prize as Argentina coach, after winning the Copa America in 2021.
Scaloni's contract had expired, but he always outlined his intention to stay on and news of his new deal was confirmed on Monday.
It means Scaloni is set to take charge of Argentina at next year's Copa America and at the next World Cup.
The United States will stage both the Copa America and the 2026 World Cup, though Mexico and Canada are also co-hosts for the latter tournament.
Scaloni, who counted Newell's Old Boys, West Ham, Lazio and Atalanta among his clubs across a 20-year playing career, took charge of Argentina in 2018 following a stint as the nation's under-20 coach.
He has been nominated for the FIFA Best Men's Coach for 2022, alongside Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Giuseppe Marotta says Inter have "never lacked trust" in Simone Inzaghi but the club must find "therapy" following a 1-0 Serie A defeat to Bologna on Sunday.
Riccardo Orsolini scored the only goal of the game to leave the second-placed Nerazzurri 18 points behind runaway leaders Napoli.
Striker Lautaro Martinez warned Inter will "get nowhere playing like this" after their six-game unbeaten run came to a halt.
Inter CEO Marotta has full faith in head coach Inzaghi, yet he wants more consistency.
He told Sky Sport Italia: "We are protagonists in the Champions League and in the Coppa Italia, but in what is the most important competition, the championship, there is discontinuity in results.
"We believe in Inzaghi, he is doing an excellent job and trust has never failed. Today it is difficult to win and be competitive, but one fact emerges: we are inconsistent, especially when the team faces teams clearly within reach.
"It is on this point that an analysis must be made and a therapy identified, it being understood that the club must support this activity."
He added of Inzaghi: "Our obligation is to give satisfaction to the fans. Inzaghi is a good, young and well-prepared coach. We have never lacked trust in him."
Marotta is unsure whether on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku will be at San Siro next season.
He said: "Talking about it now is premature. In June, he will return to Chelsea and then a new scenario will open up and we'll see what to do.
"He wants to stay, surely knowing him we will see if it will be the case to be able to negotiate his return with us."
It was quite the performance on Sunday from Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, who combined for all three goals as Paris Saint-Germain won 3-0 at Marseille in Ligue 1.
In the absence of the injured Neymar and with PSG trying to get back on track after a recent run of three consecutive defeats before a 4-3 win against Lille last week, the star duo took it upon themselves to rip apart Marseille.
As well as both achieving personal landmarks on Sunday – Mbappe scoring his 200th PSG goal and Messi scoring his 700th career goal – they also improved their already impressive record as a pair in the league this season.
The two standout players from December's exciting World Cup final between France and Argentina have proven there is no ill will from Qatar as they continue to lay chances on a plate for the other.
Mbappe and Messi have combined for 10 goals in Ligue 1, three more than any other two players in Europe's top-five leagues this season.
In fact, the second-most productive combination in France's top-flight also involves Messi, who has combined with Neymar for six goals, while Lille pair Jonathan David and Remy Cabella have five.
It is perhaps no surprise with Napoli seemingly strolling to the Scudetto in Italy that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen sit in second place in Europe with seven goals, but it may raise eyebrows to learn that they are joined on the same amount by another Serie A duo of Roma's Paulo Dybala and Tammy Abraham.
Lazio's Ciro Immobile and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic are the third-most efficient in Italy after providing one another with a total of five goals.
In the Premier League, it did not take a fortune-teller to predict that Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland would work well together when Manchester City signed the Norwegian striker from Borussia Dortmund last year, and they lead the way in England with six combinations so far, ahead of Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, as well as Jack Harrison and Rodrigo Moreno at Leeds United (both five).
There are also three pairings in Europe's top 12 from the Bundesliga, though interestingly, none from Bayern Munich or Dortmund.
Borussia Monchengladbach's Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram and Bayer Leverkusen duo Jeremie Frimpong and Moussa Diaby have both combined for six goals, while surprise title contenders Union Berlin have been boosted by Jordan Siebatcheu and Sheraldo Becker producing five goals for one another.
Spain's LaLiga has not been quite as filled with potent partnerships, with three pairings tied on four goals each.
They include Ousmane Dembele and Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona, who have shone together at Camp Nou since the latter arrived from Bayern, while Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann have also managed four, as have Brais Mendez and Mikel Merino of Real Sociedad.
None can compare to the efficacy of Mbappe and Messi though, and while two of the world's best players continue to link up at the Parc des Princes, expect more and more magic moments from them.
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has officially been credited with his side's second goal in Sunday's 2-0 EFL Cup final win against Newcastle United.
The goal, which arrived six minutes after Casemiro had opened the scoring at Wembley, was announced at the time as a Sven Botman own goal.
Rashford's shot took a deflection off Newcastle defender Botman and looped over goalkeeper Loris Karius.
However, both United and the competition organisers confirmed on Monday that Rashford was indeed the goalscorer.
That means the in-form England international finishes as the 2022-23 EFL Cup's top scorer with six goals, having found the net in every round United played in.
He now has 25 goals in 38 games for United this season – only Kylian Mbappe (29) and Erling Haaland (33) have scored more among players from Europe's top five leagues.
Rashford's latest strike helped propel United to their first trophy under Erik ten Hag and their first of any sort since 2017 when they won the Europa League under Jose Mourinho.
Massimiliano Allegri accepts it will take time for Paul Pogba to get fully up to speed as the midfielder prepares to make his long-awaited second debut for Juventus.
The France international has yet to feature for Juve since rejoining the club last July following his Manchester United exit due to a succession of setbacks.
He sustained a knee injury in pre-season that required surgery, forcing him to miss the entire season to date and France's World Cup campaign.
Pogba was on the substitutes' bench for Juve's shock 2-0 home loss to Monza in January, but Allegri opted against bringing him on and he has not featured in the squad since.
However, Allegri confirmed at his pre-match news conference on the eve of Tuesday's Serie A match with city rivals Torino that the 29-year-old is finally ready to play.
"He's feeling better and he's been called up for tomorrow's game," Allegri said. "If necessary, we'll play him. We know he won't have much playing time, but he can play.
"I've talked to him like I have all the others. He understands it's an important part of the season to get back playing. He must remain motivated to help us finish the season well."
Pogba, who signed a four-year deal with Juventus, has not played a competitive game since his former club United's 4-0 Premier League loss to Liverpool last April.
Allegri also confirmed Federico Chiesa, who has missed Juve's past two matches, is in contention to play against Torino.
"He trained with the team yesterday," Allegri said. "He can't start from the beginning. Players who come back from a long period of inactivity must be managed. He's fine, though.
"We have Pogba, who has not played for 315 days, and Chiesa, who missed 10 months. It'll take a little patience. It's normal – they're humans. We need to help them grow."
Juventus, who were docked 15 points last month following an investigation into the club's past transfer dealings, have won their past three Serie A games without conceding.
The Bianconeri are now eighth, 12 points off the top four ahead of their midweek Derby della Mole showdown with Torino, who are one point and one place further back.
Juve are unbeaten in their past 17 derbies in all competitions, with 13 wins and four draws.
"The derby is always an important game for both teams, especially for us. We must continue this climb by increasing our points in the league," Allegri said.
"This match has the value it must have. On the pitch, regardless of what happens outside, we have to get the points to stay in the top-four battle."
Not since April 1995 have Torino won away at Juventus, losing 11 times and drawing five since then.
Pep Guardiola believes "everyone is going to drop points" between now and the end of the season in the Premier League title race.
Manchester City appeared to take the initiative when they beat rivals Arsenal at Emirates Stadium recently, but then drew at Nottingham Forest to allow the Gunners to reclaim top spot, before both won again at the weekend.
With Manchester United also closing in from third place, it promises to be a close race, but Guardiola is not concerned by the various ups and downs.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of his team's FA Cup fifth-round trip to Bristol City, he sarcastically quipped: "After Nottingham we were not consistent, but now we are consistent because we won one game [against Bournemouth on Saturday].
"In our game we are playing it is good, the results could be better in terms of winning at Spurs [1-0 away defeat] and Nottingham, but it is football, sometimes that happens. Of course, it is not exceptional, it is okay, it is good. No complaints for the way we are playing and fighting.
"After the last game I said the mood is exceptional and the guys are doing everything, that is enough for me.
"We are closing right to the last 10 games of the season and that will define [it]. I have the feeling in the Premier League many things are going to happen, everyone is going to drop points, but we cannot drop any, we want to fight until the end."
Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte were all absent from the 4-1 win at Bournemouth, though the Belgium midfielder was an unused substitute, and Guardiola updated to say: "[We] have training this afternoon. Kevin still has a little bit of illness but is much better."
City's trip to Bristol City on Tuesday will see them come up against a side who have not lost in 12 games (W6 D6) and sit 13th in the Championship.
"From my experience in this country when you go away from home in the FA Cup against a Championship side, always, always it is tough," Guardiola said. "At home it would be a little bit different. Away, always it is tough in the FA Cup.
"That is why we are flying there tomorrow to do a good game and go through. It is a nice competition and we will do what we have to do."
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