PEP: WINNING DOESN’T ALWAYS LAST... LIVERPOOL WERE GOING TO DOMINATE FOR YEARS, THEN LOOK WHAT HAPPENED THERE

PEP GUARDIOLA has cast doubt on Manchester City’s ability to dominate in the future – despite them being poised for a third title in four years. City, who hold a 14-point lead over tomorrow’s opponents Manchester United, need seven wins from their remaining 11 games to clinch the Premier League title. Guardiola’s record-breaking side have won their last 21 games in all competitions and have their sights set on completing an unprecedented Quadruple haul this season. Despite their heroics, Guardiola cut through all the plaudits by warning his players not to believe they are invincible, citing Liverpool’s implosion to back his belief. “When you win something, it doesn’t mean we’re going to win in the future, that’s what I’ve learned in my experience,” he said. “Always you can see the warnings. When we won the second title, people said it’s open now for Manchester City to win it for the next five years.

“When Liverpool won it last season, people said they’d dominate for the next four or five years, the new era is for Liverpool – and look what happened. That is the best example. The reality in sport is tomorrow. I don’t believe it for a second when people say it will last a long time.

“Football is what you do today and so far we’ve been magnificent, we cannot deny it. But in

March nobody wins titles and still there are many tough games.

“But I’ve seen in the team that commitment and it doesn’t matter who plays, everybody gives everything, and on Sunday we want to do it again.

“People are saying nice things because we are winning.

“The smell when you win is beautiful but we can lose. That’s why our perspective is calm.”

United did the league double over City last season and Guardiola warned: “We know the quality they have. They are so strong in all departments.”