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Pep Guardiola: Manchester City struggling to match high quality of rivals

City now 14 points behind leaders Liverpool after defeat by rivals United

Samuel Lovett
Monday 09 December 2019 11:24 GMT
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Pep Guardiola has admitted that Manchester City are struggling to match the high standard in quality set by their rivals.

Having clinched the title in back-to-back seasons, notably clocking up 100 points in the 2017/18 campaign, City established themselves as the leading force in English football over the past two years.

But with the side now 14 points off league leaders Liverpool, with four defeats to their name already, Guardiola’s men are struggling to return to their former heights.

Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester United was the latest setback for City, and Guardiola has conceded that the defending champions need to up their game if they are to compete at the top level.

“United have the quality to defend and the quality to attack on the counter-attack and you have to accept that,” he said.

“That is the level we face against Liverpool, United, Barcelona, Madrid, Juventus, they are the teams we have to face and the reality is maybe we are not able now to compete with them.

“We have to improve and accept it and move forward. Maybe we need to live that as a club to improve, to accept the reality now and improve.”

However, Guardiola is refusing to throw in the towel just yet and urged his players to maintain their focus for City’s other competitions.

City are already through to the last 16 of the Champions League ahead of Wednesday’s final group game against Dinamo Zagreb.

They play in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals later this month as they bid to win it for a third successive season.

They have also been given a kind draw against League Two Port Vale for the start of their FA Cup defence next month.

Guardiola said: “The reality is we are 14 points behind for the mistakes we have done, for the quality of our opponents and especially, as well, the things we cannot control. That is the reality but we have to continue.

“We are at the beginning of December and we have other competitions to play in and other games to fight and improve on. Maybe this is going to help us for the future so we need to live this as a club to be better.”

Despite that, Guardiola is not yet ready to start prioritising competitions.

He said: “We are not thinking of winning the Champions League, I am not thinking about how many points we need or how many points they have to drop. We are trying to win games, to win the next one.”

Additional reporting by PA

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