Manchester City's Pep Guardiola: 'We are nowhere near Manchester United status'

Pep Guardiola watches on during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Burnley on January 2, 2017
© SilverHub
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says that the club need 10 years to reach the same status as rivals Manchester United.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has claimed that his club have a long way to go to reach the status of local rivals Manchester United.

Since 2008, the North-West club have transformed into Premier League heavyweights thanks to the arrival of their Abu Dhabi-based billionaire owners.

In terms of honours, City have four league titles to their name, but they are miles behind their neighbours in that regard considering that United have 20 under their belt, as well as three European crowns.

As well as United, Guardiola believes that City are in the shadows of the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, claiming that becoming a force in the Champions League is paramount.

"We don't have the history with this shirt, of Barcelona, Juventus, Munich or Manchester United. Not their titles," The Mirror quotes Guardiola as saying.

"It's about being in Europe and over the next decade to be there [in the Champions League] every year. That's more important to this club than winning one title, believe me, more than that.

"We have to convince people at this amazing club that they are good. They are good, and the fans as well. They have to believe they are good, the club is good, the players are good."

City are currently seven points adrift of league leaders Chelsea after 20 games.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea20161342152749
2Liverpool20135248232544
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs20126239142542
4Manchester CityMan City20133441221942
5Arsenal20125344222241
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd20116331191239
7Everton208662823530
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom208572824429
9Bournemouth207492934-525
10Southampton206681925-624
11Stoke CityStoke206682432-824
12Burnley2072112231-923
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham2064102335-1222
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15Leicester CityLeicester205692431-721
16Middlesbrough204791722-519
17Crystal Palace2044123037-716
18Sunderland2043131937-1815
19Swansea CitySwansea2043132345-2215
20Hull City2034131744-2713