Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted that his team is "miles away" from Liverpool as the title celebrations continue on Merseyside. And he refused to suggest that the Etihad side will be back challenging again next season.
In the end, Liverpool finished 13 points ahead of Manchester City in the Premier League table. But the Reds wrapped up the title with four games to spare and only collected two points — from draws against Arsenal and Crystal Palace — after that.
Guardiola was asked if he thought Manchester City would be able to overhaul Liverpool next season. And, per the Irish Times, he replied: "I don’t know. I never thought we would win six Premier League titles in seven years.
"But if you expect that I am going to tell you now that next season we are going to win the Premier League, you are wrong.
"Since I have arrived at this club, we have finished with 80-plus points and this season we have finished with 71 so that is miles away from our standards. And it has happened for many reasons.
"Sport and football gives you another chance and we will look to prove ourselves. But we are miles away from Liverpool. That is the reality.
Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola before Man City 0-2 Liverpool.
Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola before Man City 0-2 Liverpool. (Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
"I have a feeling next season will be better but I don’t know how we will react after the Club World Cup. We will be exhausted without a holiday before next season.
"We have to rise and increase our level otherwise we will not compete to fight for the titles. But if we are fit, we will try, and we will be closer."
Earlier in the week, Guardiola threatened to quit if Manchester City tried to make him have a larger roster of players. And he insisted after beating Fulham on the final day of the season that he doesn't envisage wholesale changes coming.
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"I don’t have that feeling," Guardiola said when he was asked about it being a big summer for his side. "I have 24 players and I saw them training the other day and I said: ‘Oh my gosh, how good are they?’
"New faces will come, especially in positions where we are weaker, but I don’t think we need a lot. We have a good squad and I don’t want a lot of players.
"But we will see. The summer is long. There will be players who realize they don’t play and want to leave. But that is now not my business. I qualified for the Champions League and the rest belongs to the club."
Liverpool.com says: Manchester City will have Rodri back next season and any team that has Erling Haaland has half a chance. It does look light in some areas, though, particularly in midfield where Kevin De Bruyne is leaving and Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic are past their best.