Man City ´miles away´ from Liverpool, Guardiola concedes

Pep Guardiola conceded Manchester City are “miles away” from Premier League champions Liverpool, and cannot guarantee his side will challenge the Reds for next season’s title.

City – champions of England in each of the previous four seasons – finished 13 points adrift of Arne Slot’s side, following a difficult 2024-25 campaign.

The Citizens’ tally of 71 points was their lowest since Guardiola took charge at the Etihad Stadium in July 2016, while they finished the season without a trophy for only the second time during his tenure.

A mid-season slump in form saw City fall out of Premier League title contention, while they also suffered a premature Champions League exit, before losing to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final.

However, Guardiola’s side did secure Champions League football for a 15th successive season, thanks to a 2-0 victory over Fulham on the final day.

But Guardiola is uncertain if City will be able to fire themselves back into Premier League title contention next term.

“I don’t know. I never thought we would win six Premier League titles in seven years,” he said. “But if you expect that I am going to tell you now that next season we are going to win the Premier League, you are wrong.

“Since I arrived at this club, we have finished with 80-plus points and, this season, we have finished with 71, so that is miles away from our standards. And it has happened for many reasons.

“Sport and football give you another chance, and we will look to prove ourselves.

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“But we are miles away from Liverpool. That is the reality. I have a feeling next season will be better, but I don’t know how we will react after the Club World Cup. We will be exhausted without a holiday before next season.

“We have to rise and increase our level, otherwise we will not compete to fight for the titles. But if we are fit, we will try, and we will be closer.”

City waved goodbye to Kevin De Bruyne after 10 glorious seasons at the Etihad Stadium, while Jack Grealish’s future is also the subject of intense speculation.

Guardiola expects to strengthen his squad with new arrivals, but does not see himself making wholesale changes.

“I don’t have that feeling,” he added. “I have 24 players and I saw them training the other day and I said: ‘Oh my gosh, how good are they?!’

“New faces will come, especially in positions where we are weaker, but I don’t think we need a lot. We have a good squad, and I don’t want a lot of players.

“But, we will see. The summer is long. There will be players who realise they don’t play and want to leave. But that is now not my business. I qualified for the Champions League, and the rest belongs to the club.”