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Pep Guardiola is predicting a race to the wire for the Premier League title - and believes Jose Mourinho will be one of his main rivals come the end of the season.

Manchester City sit eight points clear of Manchester United - and can extend that lead to 11 if they beat Burnley in Saturday’s lunchtime kick off.

But Guardiola - whose team face a potentially decisive month in December with games against Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool - is convinced Mourinho’s side remain a "real contender to win the Premier League."

This season is shaping up to be the most widely contested title in Premier League history, with as many as six teams in the race.

Guardiola said: “We knew that from the beginning. Before I arrived here I knew that so many teams can win the Premier League.

“I think it is going to be decided in the last eight or 10 games.

“The important thing is to be there in that time.”

Guardiola can concentrate fully on City’s title challenge after securing qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League this week.

He admits Europe has taken its toll on his side - but believes it is a measure of their own credentials that they sit just a point behind leaders Chelsea.

And when listing the teams that will be in contention he pointed to United who he says are a coming force.

“After eight games in the Champions League we are there with top teams like Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham,” he said. “And of course United because United are getting better in their last games so are now a real contender to win the Premier League.

“It’s always difficult after the Champions League game because of the travel and the demands are not just physical, but mental.

“After the Champions League games it is so tough and most of the players are not used to playing three days after the Champions League - but they are in process.

“We are working on that.”

December will tell Guardiola much about his team’s title credentials, with reigning champions Leicester also making up part of a daunting fixture list over the festive period.

But City's manager didn't appear overly-concerned about the testing schedule.

“It will be complicated for the other teams as well,” he added - insisting he is satisfied with his side’s campaign so far.

“We start really well in terms of points and our games. People maybe expected everything would be easy, but it happened in my past with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

“It looks like it is always easy, but I said in those moments that everything is so complicated.

“In terms of points we are quite well.

“In terms of games, we have to improve and we will do that because I think there is a reason why and we have to improve in the next period.”