Pep Guardiola concedes Manchester City may no longer be able to match the standards of the best teams.
Guardiola’s City have been the Premier League’s outstanding side over the past two years, clocking up 100 points in 2017-18 and then retaining the title last term as part of a treble-winning campaign.
But this season has so far proved a reality check, with City falling 14 points behind leaders Liverpool after just 16 games following four defeats.
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The latest of those losses came in a 2-1 reverse to rivals Manchester United in Saturday’s derby at the Etihad Stadium, from which 16 Conclusions ought to be consumed.
Guardiola hopes City will at least be able to learn from their setbacks.
The City boss said: “United have the quality to defend and the quality to attack on the counter-attack and you have to accept that.
“That is the level we face against Liverpool, United, Barcelona, Madrid, Juventus, they are the teams we have to face and the reality is maybe we are not able now to compete with them.
“We have to improve and accept it and move forward. Maybe we need to live that as a club to improve, to accept the reality now and improve.”