Guardiola analyses City defeat by Leicester and Liverpool's lead

Pep Guardiola has had virtually every week to digest the teachings from the shock defeat by Leicester.

However the Manchester Metropolis boss stated he isn’t considering the truth that they’re already six factors behind Liverpool, albeit with a recreation in hand.

Metropolis head to Elland Highway tomorrow for one more tough Premier League recreation in opposition to promoted Leeds, who virtually shocked Liverpool in an exhilarating 4-Three defeat at Anfield on the opening weekend.

Metropolis conceded 5 objectives for the primary time below Guardiola – and the primary time at house for 17 years as they slumped 5-2.

Guardiola stated earlier than that recreation he would brook no excuses from his gamers after an terrible pre-season which noticed them return to coaching every week after everybody else aside from Manchester United.

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However he referred to the disrupted pre-season – with gamers arriving again from worldwide responsibility in dribs and drabs, in addition to struggling three optimistic Covid-19 exams and a handful of accidents, as causes for the poor show.

Guardiola stated his gamers had been itching to get that outcome out of their techniques, and that’s the reason he fielded such a robust aspect at Burnley within the Carabao Cup in midweek, and strolled to a 3-Zero win.

“I do know we’re nonetheless a little bit bit away from our greatest, for a lot of causes however it’s what it’s,” stated Guardiola.

“We misplaced in opposition to Leicester not due to the dearth of bodily situation or as a result of we don’t have a number of gamers, or no matter.

“While you concede three penalties in the way in which we conceded them, it’s tough to win video games, so we now have to have a look at ourselves.

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“We’re nonetheless not the place we must be for the explanations on the time, for the accidents, for the Covid, for a lot of causes however it’s what it’s.

“If we begin to complain, we aren’t going to make any steps ahead, and the massive golf equipment who wish to attempt to obtain good issues step ahead with the conditions that they’ve.”

Metropolis and reigning champions Liverpool have raised the bar within the final two seasons by, between them, posting the 4 highest factors totals within the historical past of the English prime flight.

And which means any slip-up is seen as a nail within the coffin of a membership’s title hopes – some have already determined that Liverpool are on their strategy to a profitable defence of the title after a easy, untroubled begin to the season and 9 factors from three video games.

Guardiola stated he isn’t even considering the impact that Leicester defeat may have.

“It’s the second recreation, we now have performed one recreation much less so we’re going to play the third recreation,” he stated. “I’m actually not pondering of the factors we now have to get for the title, I’m involved and centered on tomorrow – the way in which we now have to play, the gamers I want to pick.

“In the end I’ve to provide minutes to the gamers getting back from harm or Covid.

“Within the meantime, attempt to get factors within the league, qualify within the cups and go recreation by recreation.

“You see the schedule – we don’t have a lot time for days off, there are video games each three days so that is what we now have to do and after we’ll see the outcomes and penalties of what we’ve accomplished.”