Pep Guardiola: 'Manchester City nowhere near Barcelona's level'

Guardiola: 'City nowhere near Barca's level'
© Offside
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola targets Champions League glory with the Citizens before comparisons with his former Barcelona side can begin.

Pep Guardiola has insisted that there is still plenty of work to be done before his Manchester City side can be compared to former club Barcelona.

The Citizens are embarking on an era of domestic dominance in English football, having already lifted the EFL Cup and dropped just nine points in their opening 29 Premier League games.

City are now within four wins of a third top-flight triumph in six years, and also hold a four-goal advantage over Basel heading into the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Guardiola has played down comparisons with the great Barca side he led to European glory in 2009 and 2011, however, as City have only won one trophy - the EFL Cup - under his leadership so far.

"It's completely different players; the players in the past won a lot. We are nil, most of us," he told reporters at his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday's visit of Basel. "We are new here. Now we can say we have won one title but it is not comparing, so no.

"It's not good for us to be compared with that team. That team has dominated for the last decade, 15 or 20 years with different managers and different players.

"Every season, they have won a lot of things and we have won just the first title. To join this kind of team, you have to be there for a long time - many years - but we've won just one title, that's all."

Guardiola won 14 major honours during his four years at Camp Nou, including three La Liga crowns and a couple of Copas del Rey.

Share this article now:
General view outside The Emirates ahead of the Premier League game between Arsenal and Chelsea on January 3, 2018
Read Next:
Arsenal 'quoted £62.5m for Geubbels'
>

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Premier League
Championship
Scottish Premiership
La Liga
Bundesliga
Serie A
Ligue 1
League One
League Two
National League
Scottish Championship
Scottish League One
Scottish League Two
Eredivisie
Primeira Liga
Russian Premier League
Segunda Division
2.Bundesliga
Serie B
Ligue 2
Liga MX
Uruguayan Primera Division
Australian A-League
Chinese Super League
Norwegian Eliteserien
Greek Superleague
Turkish Super Lig
Major League Soccer

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City29253183206378
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd30205558233565
3Liverpool30179468343460
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs29177555243158
5Chelsea30175852272556
6Arsenal291361052411145
7Burnley30111092726143
8Leicester CityLeicester301010104543240
9Everton30107133549-1437
10Watford29106133947-836
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton30810122840-1234
12Bournemouth2989123444-1033
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3088143040-1032
14Swansea CitySwansea3087152542-1731
15Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3087152550-2531
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham3079143657-2130
17Southampton30513122944-1528
18Crystal Palace3069152848-2027
19Stoke CityStoke2969142854-2627
20West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom30311162347-2420

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in with Facebook to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for £1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for £12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
LIVE SCORES VIDEPRINTER
expand