Has Guardiola Given up? Here's What He Said After Loss to Man Utd

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted that considering the level of soccer being played right now, his side might not be able to compete with the likes of Liverpool FC, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus.

Guardiola told the bitter truth following Man City's home loss to Manchester United in the Premier League. The derby loss meant, the defending champions now trail the table leaders, Liverpool, by 14 points.

Man City, who won the domestic treble - Premier League, League Cup and FA Cup - last season, have already lost four matches and are on the third place in the Premier League after 16 games.
Guardiola, being as brutal as ever, has said that Man City need to "accept" their current status, "improve and move forward."

"We have to improve and accept it and move forward. [Manchester] United has the quality to defend and the quality to attack the counter-attack, and you have to accept that. That is the level we face against Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus. They are the teams we have to face, and the reality is maybe we are not able now to compete with them. Maybe we need to live that as a club to improve, to accept the reality now and improve," Guardiola, who spoke to the media in a press conference after the derby loss, added.

The Spaniard also insisted that even if Man City failed to catch Liverpool this time, the battle would resume next season, but the important factor right now is not to give up.

"The reality is we are 14 points behind for the mistakes we have done, for the quality of our opponents and especially, as well, the things we cannot control. That is the reality but we have to continue," Guardiola further stated.

Man City's immediate next fixture is against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, a tournament that they have never won. Three days later, they head to Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal in the Premier League. The following week will then see Guardiola's boys play the quarter-final match in the League Cup against Oxford United.