Manchester City beat West Ham 3-0 to move top of the Premier League, but Pep Guardiola delivered a stern message to his players warning they must improve if they want to win titles this season
Pep Guardiola warned Manchester City they have to raise their standards if they want to win trophies this season, despite a victory that propelled them to the Premier League summit.
The 3-0 triumph over West Ham appeared straightforward on paper, yet Guardiola delivered a stern warning afterwards that trophies will remain elusive unless his side’s ball-playing improves dramatically.
Erling Haaland broke the deadlock within just five minutes, with Tijjani Reijnders doubling the advantage before the interval.
Nevertheless, the Hammers carved out several opportunities to claw their way back into the contest before Haaland sealed the points with his second, aided by some farcical defending from the visitors.
Guardiola heads into the Christmas period pleased with City’s league position but troubled by the standards that require urgent attention, reports the Manchester Evening News.
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“I always have to thank Erling for the goals but today thanks to him and Phil [Foden] and Nico O’Reilly they helped us a lot to do this type of game. Defensively we are improving. We are visualising it with the ball,” he said.
“The way you attack depends on how the opponents defend and you have to be in the right spots and positions to be more fluid and we were not. I’m happy, we are fourth in the Champions League and semi-finals of the Carabao Cup but the way we played with the ball we have to improve.
“Otherwise, it will not be enough to arrive in March and April to be contenders to win titles. I want to be honest with myself, I said to the players, Merry Christmas for everyone but it will not be enough if we don’t improve. It will not improve.”
City have battled their way back into title contention following a shaky beginning to their campaign and are the side carrying all the momentum, having secured their seventh consecutive victory across all competitions whilst Arsenal have stumbled recently. Guardiola can see the characteristics within his squad that could deliver championship glory, but recognises more is required if they are to fulfil that promise.
“We will be there,” he continued. “If they follow me we will be there but we have to improve. I know the level in Europe, in the Premier League, I know Arsenal and the other teams and how tough they are, it is not enough. The spirit is there, last season we did not have the spirit or aggression or hunger – all the attributes they need.
“It is not about the highlights and how good the actions are, there is something that comes from inside where we will recover from the Club World Cup. The next step is hopefully to have Rodri back and we have to do many things better. You cannot forget Jeremy [Doku], [Mateo] Kovacic, Rodri, Omar Marmoush are not here. Rayan Ait-Nouri is not here but we need him because Nico O’Reilly cannot play 90 minutes every game in his role.
“We had four or five players from the academy on the bench. Don’t misunderstand me, I am delighted, happy and these guys are top, they follow us and give their life, but if they want to reach the next step, if they play in a diamond like today or five at the back or four, there are spaces in different ways and you have to be in the right spots. The positional game will define the team. Today it was not good.”
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