Pep Guardiola says Manchester City have what it takes to be even better than last season as they prepare to face Bournemouth this afternoon. City piled up 100 Premier League points in the 2017-18 season and 98 points last campaign in claiming back-to-back titles, and both times Guardiola said they could achieve more.
Now Guardiola claims last weekend’s draw against Tottenham proved his City side could go even better than last season. Though last weekend’s 2-2 draw ended in frustration – as Gabriel Jesus’ potential late winner was ruled out by VAR for the slightest of handballs from Aymeric Laporte in the build-up – Guardiola was left purring by his side’s attacking football as they had 30 attempts at goal to Tottenham’s three.
“The way we played against Tottenham showed we can do better than last season,” said Guardiola. “So few games last season (were that good), even Chelsea when we won 6-0, the Tottenham game was better than Chelsea. “Last year we arrived in front of goal and in the first five times we scored four. In football, in all sports, it is like this, but we played better.”
The challenge for City – aside from converting more of their chances – is being able to produce such displays more regularly, but again Guardiola believes they have what it takes to consistently put in great displays. “I think it is impossible to sustain every three days playing the way we played against Tottenham,” Guardiola said.
“The emotion of the first game at home, the finalists of the Champions League, the emotion of the players, they were incredibly focused. “The problem when you play every three days, you have to lift them. ‘Come on, let’s go guys, it is another one and another one’, but the level was so good. It was incredible, the way we play, so we try to keep going and build up from here.”
Guardiola is trying to lead City to three consecutive titles, something not seen in English football for a decade since Manchester United’s titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Guardiola has already achieved the feat twice with both Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and believes this City side are capable too.
“I am not a guy who thinks because we have done it with Barcelona and Bayern Munich we are going to do it – those are statistics I don’t believe,” he said. “I believe in the spirit, in the smell, in the way we played and I think we can do it. “Of course we want to win but I didn’t feel bad against Tottenham afterwards. With the VAR again, again, again it is a little bit (frustrating) but after you sleep, you say: ‘It is OK’.”
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