Pep wants City to develop a ‘killer touch’

PEP GUARDIOLA is urging his Manchester City players to get ruthless in a bid to nail down their top four spot.

Guardiola has been frustrated in both boxes as not taking chances at one end and defensive mistakes at the other have caused major damage.

It means City are out of the Champions League after losing on away goals to Monaco and off the pace in the Premier League.

These are a crucial few days with the Blues in London to face Arsenal this afternoon and leaders Chelsea on Wednesday.

It’s in this type of game where City have lacked a killer touch. Two penalties missed in a home draw with Everton. A two-goal lead squandered against Tottenham. Defeat at home to Chelsea having been 1-0 up.

Considering the attacking players at Guardiola’s disposal, the statistics are revealing. In their two title-winning seasons, City scored 93 and 102 respectively.

Yet this season, they have netted 54 with just 10 games remaining. But rather than shoring up a leaky defence, the current boss is focusing on sharpening the attack.

“We have lacked the killer touch,” he said.

“We got to the lines but we were not able to finish the chances. We were not good enough in the boxes. It’s as simple as that.

“That is a big problem for us, even in Monaco. We created more chances than them. In the second half over there, we had clear chances and in Europe if you are not able to score those, you are out.

“We were 1-0 up against Chelsea and we had three or four opportunities in front of goal.

“We have the players, the attacking midfielder to create, but when we don’t score goals, we are not solid enough.

“We have to improve for next year if we want to compete with the best in Europe.”

Top scorer Sergio Aguero has managed just 13 in the league, with the next best being Raheem Sterling with six.

And unless the rest of the squad start firing, Guardiola acknowledges a striker will be a high priority this summer.

He added: “Sometimes a guy is good in the air, or on the left or the right. Some are faster or stronger and others just have the ability to score goals. It’s that simple.

“When you buy, you buy quality. And when you buy, you buy goals.”

Sterling has performed well under Guardiola but shared the frustration about missed opportunities, such as the last two draws against Stoke and Liverpool.

“We have to make sure we’re sharp enough over the next couple of weeks because it’s going to be a vital run-in to the end of the season,” he said.