Pep Guardiola asserts that Manchester City is incapable of winning the Premier League or the Champions League this year. The defending champions have lost just one of their previous 11 games in all competitions.
“We don’t have the players,” Guardiola said bluntly in an interview with TNT Sports, dismissing City’s chances of contending for major awards.
He clarified: “It’s more challenging. I no longer feel that way. Perhaps it will occur—who knows? However, it seems to me that we must now consider the near term. We can’t set a lot of lofty goals.
Due to their recent difficulties, City is now nine points behind leaders Liverpool in fifth place in the Premier League.
With just one point from their past three games, they are in a hazardous position in the Champions League and were also ousted from the Carabao Cup. They currently lie in 22nd place in the group standings.
Guardiola again underlined the value of consistency, which has been a defining feature of City’s recent success but has been deficient this season.
“You need consistency if you want to accomplish something significant, like winning the Premier League or making it to the finals of the Champions League. We used to be quite consistent, but not anymore.
When City plays Aston Villa this weekend, they have an opportunity to move back into the top four despite the bleak outlook.
However, their next two group-stage games will determine whether they are able to salvage their Champions League campaign.