Chelsea manager Antonio Conte appears to have conceded defeat even before taking on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Conte who have come under fire in recent weeks believes that City can reach the 100 points mark and that they seem unstoppable.
City claimed the Carabao Cup by beating Arsenal 3-0 at Wembley, Pep Guardiola’s first trophy as manager.
They have lost just once in the league this season and need five wins from their remaining 10 games to clinch the title.
“In this moment they seem unstoppable,” said Conte. “We must have great admiration. Sometimes it is very difficult to find a weakness in this team.
“When you work very well and there is a great feeling between the manager and the club, you can work in the way you want, to try to improve your team in the best way.
“Manchester City has the possibility to spend a lot of money. When you link this situation – a good manager, much money to spend in the transfer market, the same ambition – this is the final result.”
The runaway leaders who need five wins from 10 games to claim a third title in seven seasons, are on 75 points.
Chelsea currently hold the record for most points in a season after reaching 95 in 2004-05.
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“They have the possibility [of reaching 100 points] because they’re showing to be the best in the league,” said Conte.
The Italian, who won the title with 93 points last season, added: “If they continue with this fire, with this hunger, for sure they can achieve this result. It won’t be easy.”
Guardiola’s City are 15 points clear at the top and will finish the campaign on 105 – 10 more than the current record – if they win their remaining 10 games.
As well as Chelsea, they still have to face Manchester United at home on 7 April and Tottenham away on 14 April.
Conte ‘a master tactician’
Conte is a “master” tactician and will leave his mark on English football, according to City manager Guardiola.
Former Italy boss Conte adopted a 5-3-2 formation to guide Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season in charge.
But the Blues are 22 points adrift of leaders City ahead of their game in Manchester.
“I think Conte is going to leave something to English football. I am sure of that,” said Guardiola.
Conte saw his side heavily beaten heavily 3-0 by rivals Arsenal in September 2016, after which the former Juventus boss changed his system from a 4-5-1 to playing with three centre-backs and two wing-backs.
It allowed Chelsea to go on a club-record run of 13 consecutive victories, which laid the platform for their fifth Premier League triumph.
This campaign has been a difficult one, though, with the Blues in fifth place and constant speculation surrounding Conte’s future at Stamford Bridge.
Guardiola said: “What Antonio has done here in the Premier League, maybe the people don’t realise.
“He introduced another way to attack with five at the back, another system. A lot of teams, even Arsenal, had to do a lot of imitating to do that.
“Tactically, he is a master. He did it amazingly with the national team with Italy and when he went to Turin.”
