Pep Guardiola: 'Manchester City lack mentality to compete with European elite'

Pep Guardiola watches on during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Burnley on January 2, 2017
© SilverHub
Pep Guardiola believes that Manchester City lack the "mentality" to compete with Europe's elite, which will see him make changes for next season to put things right.

Pep Guardiola has suggested that Manchester City lack the "mentality" to compete with Europe's elite and will need "changes for next season".

The Citizens crashed out of the Champions League this season when they were defeated 3-1 by AS Monaco in the second leg of their last-16 tie.

Guardiola, who spent in excess of £160m last summer, feels that his squad are lacking "not in terms of quality" but rather in their "mentality and the presence to play at that level".

The Spaniard told Sky Sports News: "We see in the Champions League that level [that those teams are at] and the quality they have.

"But it is not just the quality, it is the mentality and the presence to play at that level. Of course we have to make changes for next season. It is how they play in big situations. We lived those situations in the Monaco game so we do not forget how good they are.

"We were able to score six goals in two games but we are out. That means it is how you handle the whole situation over 180 minutes. For that you need experience. Hopefully that experience will help us for next season."

Man City, who play Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, remain in the hunt for a Champions League spot as they sit fourth in the table.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola watches on during his side's Premier League clash with Hull City at the Etihad Stadium on Boxing Day
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2Tottenham HotspurSpurs32218368224671
3Liverpool33199569402966
4Manchester CityMan City32197663352864
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd311612348242460
6Arsenal31176863402357
7Everton33169860372357
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom33128133942-344
9Southampton31117133740-340
10Watford32117143752-1540
11Stoke CityStoke33109143748-1139
12Leicester CityLeicester32107154153-1237
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham33107164459-1537
14Burnley33106173347-1436
15Crystal Palace32105174452-835
16Bournemouth3398164563-1835
17Hull City3386193467-3330
18Swansea CitySwansea3384213768-3128
19Middlesbrough32412162339-1624
20Sunderland3256212658-3221