Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City's 1-1 draw at Southampton epitomises the difficulty of defending the Premier League title.
Reigning champions City were unable to stretch their winning run to 13 top-flight games after being forced to come from behind at a boisterous St Mary's.
Aymeric Laporte's 65th-minute header cancelled out a shock early opener from Saints defender Kyle Walker-Peters.
Pep Guardiola says Man City's draw with Southampton shows how hard it is to defend the title
But the runaway leaders could not find a winner as they dropped points for the first time since late October, leaving them 12 above second-placed Liverpool, albeit having played two games more.
Despite the minor setback, City manager Guardiola had no complaints about the performances of his players.
'That's why it is the hardest prize to achieve every season, the most important one,' he said of the title.
'It's so difficult, with different contenders, everyone is ready. We are the reigning champions, we have won a lot in the past, and it's not so funny for the rest, so it's more difficult to win and win.
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson (right) fails to stop Kyle Walker-Peters' superb early goal
Walker-Peters shows his satisfaction following a stylish first Premier League goal of his career
'That's why making back-to-back titles in the last 12, 13 years has happened only once, which was ourselves, and now we're trying to do it again.
'We know how difficult it is and I don't need to win, draw or lose today to know that we still have a lot of games to play. What we have to do is try to behave and play the way we played today.
'Even winning today, the title race would not be over. In January, no one is champion, there are many games that must be played.'
City monopolised the ball on the south coast but were facing an uphill task after just seven minutes when recalled Southampton defender Walker-Peters delighted the home crowed by lashing home his maiden Premier League goal.
On-loan Saints striker Armando Broja had a tidy finish disallowed for offside and also nodded against a post before unmarked defender Laporte headed home a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick with 25 minutes to go.
City, who wasted a golden first-half chance through Raheem Sterling, pushed hard to
