Pep Guardiola has warned the Premier League that his Manchester City side can get even better – although he ruled out going through the season unbeaten.
City host Tottenham on Saturday, in search of their 16th successive win after setting a new record with their 4-0 midweek win atSwansea City.
They are 11 points ahead of nearest rivals United, 18 clear of fourth-placed Spurs and are destroying any hopes of a title race.
‘I have the feeling we can do better,’ said Guardiola. ‘Much, much better, and that’s what we will try to do.’
That is a scary prospect for their rivals but the manager did, however, dismiss the notion of his side emulating Arsenal’s Invincibles of 2003-04.
‘It’s not going to happen,’ he said. ‘We are going to lose games, it belongs to Arsene Wenger.
‘Now what happens is an exception, it’s not normal what we’ve done. We’ll try to maintain it but we are going to lose games.’
Guardiola is currently without defensive duo John Stones and Vincent Kompany, the latter of whom who came off at half-time of last weekend’s derby.
He added that there is good news with both but suggested another defender may arrive in January.
‘He’s much better, it’s a little problem,’ Guardiola said of the injury prone Belgian. ‘I don’t know if he’ll be right tomorrow but in the next games I hope he’ll be ready.’ The Catalan added that Stones was around a fortnight away from a return.
Spurs were the first team to beat City in the league last season and Guardiola believes his men are in for a tough evening.
‘When we play at White Hart Lane, I realised how tough the season would be,’ he said. ‘They attack well in the channels, young players who are the base of the national team. English football can be pleased with what he (Pochettino) has done.
‘When you let them play they have quality to play within the lines, they arrive perfect. They are strong at the back…a good team, I like to watch them play and it will be a good game tomorrow.’
COMMENTS