“I Know Our Standards” – Manchester City Boss Pep Guardiola Says Premier League Has Become Even More Difficult This Year

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said the Premier League has become even more competitive in the 2024-25 season. The Spaniard attributed the rise to the rapid improvement of the “middle-class” teams in the division.

Manchester City Falls Behind Liverpool in Title Race

After becoming the first-ever team to win four consecutive Premier League titles at the end of the 2023-24 season, Manchester City is facing stiff competition from Arne Slot’s Liverpool in the race for the English top-flight championship this term.

After 10 rounds of fixtures, Liverpool find themselves at the top of the Premier League rankings with 25 points. They have won eight matches, drawn one, and lost one.

Manchester City, meanwhile, has amassed 23 points from 10 games. The Cityzens have won seven, drawn two, and lost one. Last weekend, Man City suffered a shock 2-1 loss to AFC Bournemouth away from home. Liverpool, on the other hand, came from behind to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 to climb to the summit.

Pep Guardiola Says Premier League Has Grown Tougher This Year

Speaking to the press ahead of Man City’s UEFA Champions League showdown with Sporting CP, Guardiola said (via Liverpool World):

“I know our standards. We lost one game in the Premier League. Maybe we will lose against Brighton and Tottenham [next two league fixtures], but we lost one game and we are two points behind a top-class team in Liverpool. I know people expect us to win 38 games 5-0 and the Treble every season because this is our standards – but this will not happen.

“The middle class [teams] in the Premier League rise unbelievably. The top-class teams always were there; [Manchester] United, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal. In the last years add Newcastle, Tottenham, these teams. But after you see Fulham, Brentford, Bournemouth, sorry, I would say most of the teams! We suffered against Wolves and Southampton!”

Despite trailing Liverpool by two points, Manchester City remains the favorite to win the Premier League. They have a more experienced unit, a deeper bench, and a season-defining habit of playing their best game in the second half of the campaign. The Cityzens will return to Premier League action with a clash against Brighton & Hove Albion on November 9.