Head coach says his team proved they cman contest at the level of champions
Pep Guardiola said Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over Liverpool showed his team are “ready to be there” in the Premier League title race after cutting Arsenal’s lead at the top to four points.
Goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku sealed a convincing win at the Etihad, coming less than 24 hours after Arsenal dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Sunderland. The result also came in Guardiola’s 1,000th game as a manager and his 550th in charge of City.
“[Liverpool] are the champions of England, so we performed really good,” Guardiola said. “Second half was a little sloppy but I am really happy with that.
“The team played good, and sometimes you don’t play good and you find the goal. But we played really good anyway, and today I am so happy to celebrate it with my family.”
Guardiola admitted his players were thinking about Arsenal’s slip on Saturday and he revealed what he told them.
“I think Liverpool and us said, ‘Oh wow, Arsenal dropped points finally and conceded two goals’,” said Guardiola.
“But I told the players, don’t do it because yesterday Arsenal didn’t win. Do it because we believe in ourselves that we can play against the champions of England and show them we are ready to be there with them this season’. Today we proved it.”
