Pep Guardiola has laughed off suggestions his Manchester City side are in a league of their own and says ‘pain in the ass’ Liverpool are capable of beating them – maybe even to the title.
City looked to be running away with the title not so long ago but the Reds have started to get back into contention and would be six points behind Guardiola’s side if they win their game in hand.
Nevertheless, City’s form looks superb – not losing since a dead rubber against RB Leipzig in December – and they put on yet another incredible display on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League.
They ran riot in Lisbon against Sporting and will take a 5-0 lead back to the Etihad after Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling all got on the scoresheet.
City, who made the Champions League final last campaign, are favourites to do so again this year but Guardiola played down their dominance in a post-match interview with Peter Schmeichel on CBS.
The former Manchester United goalkeeper asked him: ‘On your current form, I mean you’re scoring nearly every chance even in the Premier League, what team out there can beat you?’
But Guardiola replied: ‘Liverpool. They’re six points behind us. Liverpool have been our biggest rival in the last seasons and always was there. They are a pain in the ass all the time! So they’re a fantastic team in Europe.’
He also listed other challengers in the Champions League, adding: ‘Just take a look at PSG today, they told me they played really well against Real Madrid. And look at Inter Milan or Liverpool or [Manchester] United in this competition.
‘So when you are now today in February they don’t assure you in April or May will be like we are right now. So in a long competition like the Premier League, when you win you are the best. You are the best.
‘But in Champions League it’s [different]… our first goal, for a little margin, is a goal. Could be offside, but it’s a goal. And the difference in the next minutes, the next game, for that result, it changes everything. In the Premier League, no, but in this competition it’s like this.
‘So that’s why today we were so good being so clinical. Arrive, score, arrive, score. And when this happens it is so difficult for any opponent.’
