Pep Guardiola has warned Manchester City that their current standards will not be enough to win trophies this season, despite a 3-0 victory over West Ham that took them to the top of the Premier League. The manager expressed concerns about his side's ball-playing ability, insisting significant improvement is required to compete in March and April.
Erling Haaland scored twice, with Tijjani Reijnders also on target, but Guardiola was far from satisfied. He highlighted defensive improvements but criticised the team's fluidity in possession. 'The way you attack depends on how the opponents defend... we were not,' Guardiola said. 'Otherwise, it will not be enough to arrive in March and April to be contenders to win titles.'
City have now won seven consecutive matches across all competitions, recovering from a slow start to the campaign. However, Guardiola believes the level of rivals such as Arsenal demands more. 'The spirit is there... but it is not enough,' he added, pointing to the absence of key players like Rodri, Jeremy Doku, and Mateo Kovacic.
Despite the warning, Guardiola remains confident his side can challenge. 'We will be there,' he stated, though he stressed the need to improve positional play and build-up. With injuries affecting squad depth, the manager called for greater consistency from his available players, including youngsters from the academy who have stepped up.
