Pep: We are the Tiger or Bolt of football world

PEP GUARDIOLA likened Manchester City’s bar-raising to sporting greats Usain Bolt and Tiger Woods yesterday. City remain in pole position to retain their Premier League crown after a season in which they have been pushed to extraordinary levels by Liverpool.

‘You know when Usain Bolt breaks the 100 metres record, that’s the standard and the others have to achieve it,’ he said.

‘Like in golf, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, that’s the same. The standards we set last season... you now have to be close to 100 points. Before it was 90.’

City’s haul will only be two points shy of last year should they win their three remaining matches — starting at Burnley tomorrow. Klopp and Guardiola have both indicated that whoever finishes second will not have failed, given the volume of points they have both amassed.

‘ We’ve helped Liverpool to achieve it and Liverpool have helped us to keep going, so thanks to Liverpool we are competing,’ Guardiola added. ‘Liverpool know that to win you have to make a lot of points.

‘We push each other, knowing the others are at the same level. Find out what we can do to win the game, work harder, respect

the opponents, try to improve on what we’ve done this season. That’s the only way I know. The amount of titles will not change my opinion of what we’ve done this season.’

Guardiola praised the mentality of his players, some of whom were crestfallen after the Champions League defeat by Tottenham. That they then beat Spurs three days later showed immense character, according to their manager. He saw their desperation to hit back in emotional conversations on WhatsApp.

The City boss will be without Kevin De Bruyne again tomorrow, while Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan are fighting to prove their fitness after picking up injuries in the victory at Manchester United on Wednesday.

‘Without all the players we could not do it,’ Guardiola said. ‘The reaction in the bad moments is the most important detail. We don’t have one guy who scored 60 goals, everyone has been involved. We can’t score lots from set pieces because we are a small team.’

The 157 goals City have scored in all competitions is a top-flight record, eclipsing 156 netted under Manuel Pellegrini five years ago.

‘I’m very pleased that the top two are both Man City,’ said Guardiola. ‘It means we’re focused on playing an attractive game.’

Tomorrow, 2.05pm, LIVE on Sky Sports.