MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Pep Guardiola says Manchester City and Liverpool have raised the bar in what is required to win a Premier League title after a blockbuster campaign by both teams.
If both sides win their remaining three games, Liverpool would finish the campaign on 97 points - the third-highest tally in the Premier League era - and still fail to end their 29-year wait for an English top-flight title because City would have 98.
It is a far cry from the 1996-97 campaign when Manchester United won the championship with just 75 points.
That means, according to Guardiola, that future champions will need to be aiming towards the magical century, which City achieved last season, to be assured of lifting the trophy.
"The standards we created last year at Manchester City, people know that you have to be close to 100," he told reporters on Friday. "Before it was 90.
"This standard was last season, we helped Liverpool to achieve it this year and Liverpool helped us to keep going, so thanks to Liverpool we are competing.
"Liverpool know that to win you have to make a lot of points. That's what we communicate to anyone.
"Next season, Chelsea are getting better, Man United, Tottenham. At the end when you are 25 points above United, 22 points ahead of other ones, if they want to stay there you have to improve the standard. It was easier before, everyone can lose to anyone."
TREBLE CHANCE
The demanding City manager, still in the hunt to win a first-ever domestic treble in English football, is already challenging his players to maintain their standards next season.
And he invoked the names of some legendary stars from other sports to try and give them an example of how they must maintain their status at the top of the Premier League.
"You know when Usain Bolt makes 100m race - that's the standard and the others have to achieve it," he said.
"Like, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, that's the same. One hundred points in a season - if you want to compete you have to do that.
"I'd sign to maintain that level, I'd sign to do what we have done again in the Premier League, I don't expect more.
"To push each other, knowing the others are at the same level. Find out what we can do to win the game, after work harder, respect the opponents, improve on what we've done this season. That's the only way I know."
Guardiola, whose side travel to Burnley on Sunday, also explained his decision to leave England defender John Stones out of his squad entirely for the recent 2-0 victory at Manchester United.
Stones has struggled to maintain a regular place in Guardiola's high-flying team this season.
"It depends on the quality of the players and what I see in the training sessions, if they are happy, a bit more down," he said.
"There are many reasons but it's not the quality because I know them and I know that always they compete good."
Soccer Football - Premier League - Huddersfield Town v Arsenal - John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield, Britain - February 9, 2019 Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with Iwobi, Lacazette lead Arsenal to win at Huddersfield
Iwobi, Lacazette lead Arsenal to win at Huddersfield
Billing, 22, received online racial abuse late on Tuesday from someone claiming to be one of the Yorkshire club's fans. "We're aware of the racist message sent to Philip Billing over social media
Huddersfield condemn racist abuse of Billing - World Soccer Talk
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/03/13/huddersfield-condemn-racist-abuse-of-billing/
"We're aware of the racist message sent to Philip Billing over social media on Tuesday evening and have subsequently referred the case to West Yorkshire Police," said a Huddersfield statement issued Wednesday. "Huddersfield Town does not tolerate abuse of any kind and has a zero-tolerance stance towards any form of discrimination.
Huddersfield ace Philip Billing exposes sick racist abuse
Real lose all in space of a week, Football News & Top Stories
Sergio Aguero's penalty gave champions Manchester City a 1-0 win over West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to stay a point behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. The decisive moment came in the 59th minute when Felipe Anderson was ruled to have brought down Bernardo Silva and Aguero coolly slotted home from the spot.
Man City 1-0 West Ham: Sergio Aguero scores penalty to seal
Football: Derby shocker with Villa's Grealish attacked by
Harry Kane has revealed his plans to swap football for American football, and end his sporting career as a kicker in the NFL. The England captain has made no secret of his passion for the US sport
(Reuters) - Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has said Eden Hazard is free to leave the club if he wants to but the Italian hopes the forward stays at Stamford Bridge. Hazard has been linked with a
Chelsea News: Eden Hazard is free to leave if he wants, says
Tampines Rovers FC will host Hougang United in an exciting AIA Singapore Premier League clash at the Tampines Stadium on Sunday. Tampines are fourth in the Singapore Premier League standings
Tampines Rovers - Results, Match Fixtures and Statistics in
Shiotani's rocket ensured Japan finished with a perfect nine points at the top of Group F as they beat Uzbekistan 2-1, despite changing 10 players from their previous game. Eldor Shomurodov opened the scoring with a fine individual goal but the Uzbek lead lasted only three minutes before Newcastle United forward Yoshinori Muto's header made it 1-1.
Shiotani fires Japan past Uzbeks, Qatar's Ali downs Saudis
Give Sarri more time and players: Hasselbaink Maurizio Sarri should be given more time as Chelsea manager, but the club's success next season will also depend greatly on whether they can get their transfer ban lifted.
Maurizio Sarri needs time and trust at Chelsea, according to
Poch Tells Tottenham To Purchase Players More Spurs are guaranteed their best finish of the Premier League era and will be runners-up to Leicester if they avoid defeat at relegated Newcastle on Sunday.
Pochettino tells Levy what Spurs must do after completing new
0 comments:
Post a Comment