MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 08:25:32| >> :120:22287:22287:

Pep Guardiola: 'Maybe we can't compete with Liverpool'

Pep Guardiola: 'Maybe we can't compete with Liverpool'
© Reuters
The defending champions are way off Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola concedes Manchester City may no longer be able to match the standards of the best teams.

Guardiola's City have been the Premier League's outstanding side over the past two years, clocking up 100 points in 2017-18 and then retaining the title last term as part of a treble-winning campaign.

But this season has so far proved a reality check, with City falling 14 points behind leaders Liverpool after just 16 games following four defeats.

Manchester City trail Liverpool by 14 points after defeat in the Manchester derby
Manchester City trail Liverpool by 14 points after defeat in the Manchester derby (Martin Rickett/PA)

The latest of those losses came in a 2-1 reverse to rivals Manchester United in Saturday's derby at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola hopes City will at least be able to learn from their setbacks.

The City boss said: "United have the quality to defend and the quality to attack on the counter-attack and you have to accept that.

"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.

Manchester City v Watford – FA Cup Final – Wembley Stadium
The FA Cup is another trophy City will bid to retain (Nick Potts/PA)

"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."

Guardiola, however, is not ready to give up on his side's title defence and there is also plenty more to play for in the remainder of the campaign.

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 that competition 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."

ID:382239: cacheID:382239:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6205:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring the opener during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Manchester United on December 7, 2019
Read Next:
Five things we learned from the weekend's Premier League action
>
Read more about Pep Guardiola Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!