Guardiola Wants Man City to Match Barcelona Hunger after Chelsea Rout
Pep Guardiola challenged Manchester City to match the hunger of his great Barcelona team after seeing them return to the top of the Premier League yesterday.
A 6-0 win against Chelsea saw the champions leapfrog Liverpool on goal difference and end a potentially pivotal week in the title race with maximum points.
City have recorded wins against Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea over the past eight days to issue a major statement of intent in their bid to retain their crown.
Guardiola, who won 14 major honours with his Lionel Messi-inspired Barca, believes his City players are yet to prove to him they have the winning mentality of the Catalan giants.
“We have won three titles since we were together,” he said.
“In Barca we won much more. But in spite of titles, the desire to do their best [is] where they are incredible.
“That team won the Champions League, World Club Cups - six trophies in first season.
“After 100 points and you break all the records, if you don’t have the appetite to push and push... the only way I know is that the more you win games, the more you have to work.
“If you make a good performance, we have to maintain the level. We are competing with Tottenham and Liverpool.
“They’ve made their best start in the whole of their history.
“The Liverpool trophy room is much bigger than ours, so for us to still be there means a lot.”
Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick as City ran riot against a ragged Chelsea.
Raheem Sterling scored twice, with Ilkay Gundogan also finding the back of the net.
“Six goals versus Chelsea is not easy,” aded Guardiola.
“We are so pleased with the week - Arsenal, Everton and that’s all.
“One week ago we played Newcastle. But if you analyse the performances this week, at Goodison, to play this way, to find the right moments, the players were outstanding.
“I said to them ‘I just want to say thank you for what they’ve done.’
“We are there, we are leading, but Liverpool have one more game. It will finish in the last games, that’s what I’m proud of - that we are there.”
-Evening Standard