Declan Rice’s Three Words After Man City Loss Revealed: What He Really Said to Teammates

Declan Rice’s defiant three-word message to his Arsenal teammates immediately after their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City has drawn praise from Pep Guardiola, who called it exactly the kind of mentality that keeps Arsenal in the title race.

The England international was captured on video telling his fellow players that the Premier League title race “is not done” despite the loss at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, April 20, 2026. The result left Arsenal three points behind Manchester City, who have a game in hand against Burnley scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

Guardiola, speaking in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, said he admired Rice’s reaction and saw it as emblematic of Arsenal’s resilience under Mikel Arteta.

“I love that. I love that. That’s why Arsenal is there,” Guardiola told Vinny O’Connor. “I saw it [on Monday] and it shows what Declan Rice means. That’s the Arsenal mentality, we’ve faced it in the Premier League these [past] seasons and in the Carabao Cup, how competitive they are.”

The Manchester City manager added that Arsenal’s ability to maintain belief in challenging moments has been a hallmark of their recent seasons, noting their unbeaten run in the Champions League this year as further evidence of their strength.

“Otherwise they can’t have done the season they have done in the Premier League being there and being unbeaten in the Champions League, as you have Mikel [Arteta] but likewise these type of players that follow the message,” Guardiola said. “And in the bad moments, they have the resilience [to say] we are there, we are there….”

The exchange highlights the mutual respect between the two title contenders, with Guardiola acknowledging that Arsenal’s mentality has been a consistent challenge for his side in recent seasons. City’s victory over Arsenal moved them within striking distance of the top of the table, with a win over Burnley potentially putting them ahead on goal difference.

Arsenal’s next fixture is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2026, when they host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. Manchester City will look to capitalize on their game in hand when they face Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday evening, kickoff set for 8:00 PM local time (7:00 PM GMT).

The title race remains tightly contested with just a few weeks left in the season and both managers have emphasized the importance of maintaining mental strength as the campaign reaches its climax.

What do you consider about Declan Rice’s message and Pep Guardiola’s reaction? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on social media.