Pep Guardiola Sends Clear Message to Manchester City Stars After Liverpool Win: “We Have to Be Better”

Pep Guardiola has issued a firm challenge to his Manchester City players following their impressive 3-0 win over Liverpool at the Etihad, urging them to stay focused and continue improving if they want to compete for the Premier League title this season.

The victory brought City within four points of league leaders Arsenal and extended their fine run of form, with 10 goals scored and just two conceded in their last three matches against Bournemouth, Dortmund, and Liverpool. It was also a memorable day for Guardiola, who celebrated his 1,000th career game as a manager with an emphatic victory over one of his fiercest rivals.

Despite the strong results, Guardiola was quick to warn that his Manchester City team still has areas that need refining. He made it clear that while the performances have been positive, the consistency and completeness required to dominate a season-long title race are still developing.

Guardiola’s Candid Assessment

“When we lost at Aston Villa or at the beginning of the season, I said the team had a good vibe, but don’t ask me why,” Guardiola said after the Liverpool match. “The reason is the bench we have today, even Khusa (Abdukodir Khusanov), who was not selected. Last season we couldn’t do that — we lost energy with the players we fielded.”

The City boss reflected on the toll of last season’s campaign, suggesting that chasing a fourth consecutive Premier League title had drained the squad both mentally and physically. “The four Premier Leagues in a row affected us in a really bad way,” Guardiola admitted. “We were not like what this team has shown in many, many years. It’s understandable a little bit. We tried to push each other, but we were not able to do it.”

Signs of Revival

However, Guardiola believes the team has rediscovered its edge since their participation in the Club World Cup, with performances improving week by week. “Since the Club World Cup, I felt something different in general,” he said. “Everyone was involved — me the first — and that’s why I feel we are getting better. In October or November, you don’t win the Premier League. Teams win the Premier League when they grow every month and arrive at the end fighting for the title.”

Guardiola’s message was clear: the Premier League is a marathon, not a sprint. “It’s not the team who is top in September or October — you have to grow,” he explained. “You can be top, but you have to be better and better. We talk a lot and have the feeling that we are on that path. It’s nice to still feel we are back in many things.”

Areas to Improve

Even after their dominant win against Liverpool, Guardiola identified several parts of City’s recent performances that didn’t meet his expectations. “I didn’t like the second half against Bournemouth, or the second half against Liverpool, or the last half-an-hour against Dortmund,” he noted. “It wasn’t like the first half. This is the point we have to grow as a team.”

Still, the Spaniard praised his players for handling a challenging week that featured three big games across different competitions. “It was an important week. Bournemouth came second in the table, Dortmund are always dangerous in the Champions League, and with Liverpool it was a fantastic week for us,” he concluded.

City’s Title Ambition

Manchester City’s latest run of form has reignited their title hopes, with Guardiola once again demanding excellence from every player. His words serve as both motivation and warning — the bar at City remains incredibly high. The manager’s insistence on growth and improvement, even after victories, is what has kept his team among Europe’s elite for nearly a decade.

For Guardiola, maintaining that hunger and drive is essential if Manchester City are to chase down Arsenal and defend their crown. “We are getting better,” he said with conviction — a statement that will no doubt keep the rest of the Premier League on alert.