Pep Guardiola has told his Manchester City players to “relax” in Sunday’s Premier League finale against West Ham and they will lift their fourth consecutive title.

A second-half brace from Erling Haaland ensured City won 2-0 at Tottenham on Tuesday to move back ahead of Arsenal and keep the race in their own hands against West Ham on the final day.

City had to wait until the 51st-minute to break the deadlock and Guardiola urged his team to heed lessons from both their own past and Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 victory at Manchester United last weekend to stay on course for a historic success.

“They were playing for the consequences of the result [in the first half],” said Guardiola. “When you do that you are going to lose the Premier League. You cannot perform to your level.

“They are human beings, I understand the pressure. Not even Arsenal played well against Manchester United, they knew if they did not win there they would not win the Premier League.

“It will be the same on Sunday for us against West Ham. We will feel the pressure. Look at Aston Villa a few seasons ago [2021-22], 2-0 down 15 minutes to go, Sergio Aguero against QPR [in 2011-12], went to 93 minutes [before Aguero scored]. It is normal.

“That is why we talk and say everyone has to relax themselves and do what they have to do, that is all.”

City will win the league by beating West Ham no matter how Arsenal fare against Everton and Guardiola added: “We know what we’re playing for. The tension is there, the rival is so good. It’s why it is difficult, we know that.

“Everyone come to the stadium and make noise. These games are more difficult but you have to do it. We’ll have one day off, two days to prepare, and then we will do our best.”

Manchester United defender Raphael Varane will leave the club when his contract runs out at the end of the season.

The 31-year-old joined from Real Madrid in July 2021 for an initial fee of about £34m and has made 93 appearances.

The former France international helped United win the Carabao Cup in 2023 when manager Erik ten Hag’s side beat Newcastle United in the final.

“Everybody at United thanks Rapha for his service and wishes him well for the future,” said a United statement., external

Varane won three La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies in his time at Real Madrid before joining United under then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

He won the World Cup with France in 2018 before retiring from international football in February 2023.

The centre-back has been out injured since a 4-3 defeat by Chelsea on 4 April and it remains to be seen if he will be fit for United’s final three games of the season.

They play Newcastle United at home on Wednesday before their final league game of the campaign away at Brighton on Sunday.

Ten Hag’s side, who are eighth in the Premier League, will then face Manchester City in the the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, 25 May.

“Despite the fact we have had a difficult season, I am very positive for the future,” said Varane.

“The new owners are coming with a clear plan and a great strategy.

“I will see you at Old Trafford to say goodbye in the last home game this season. And it’s going to be a very emotional day for me, for sure.”

Italian coaching legend Fabio Capello tore down Thomas Tuchel for ‘incredible mistakes’ in the Champions League semi-final as Bayern Munich capitulated to Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid.

Capello is a regular pundit on Sky Sport Italia for their European coverage and was in the studio for last night’s encounter.

The first leg ended 2-2 in Munich and Bayern were leading 1-0 at the Bernabeu until crumbling to a pair of Joselu goals at the 88th and 91st minutes.

Capello saw only one man to blame and that was Bayern Munich manager Tuchel.

“He used up with all the substitution slots badly, so he was unable to make the fifth change. There were players with cramp, like Pavlovic,” said Capello.

“Tuchel committed a strategic error and someone like him cannot make such incredible mistakes.”

Bayern Munich had been forced into an early change when Serge Gnabry went off injured after 27 minutes, but his replacement Alphonso Davies had opened the scoring.

Tuchel replaced attacking players Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane before the 85th minute.

Capello has praise for Ancelotti

On the other hand, Real Madrid coach Ancelotti proved his experience at this level, particularly with a tournament that he has won four times already.

“Ancelotti got the substitutions right, he knew that Real Madrid could turn it around in the final 15 minutes.”

When it came to his tactics, Capello argued that Ancelotti’s greatest strength is keeping things perfectly simple.

“It’s what he said before the game, he just puts players in a position to give their best, to feel free and express themselves to their maximum potential.”

Real Madrid will now go on to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday June 1.