Guardiola: 'City don't have history like United'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes his team is still a decade away from closing the gap on its bitter rival despite recent success.

Published : Jan 04, 2017 08:52 IST , Manchester

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola: "We don't have the history, the shirt of Barcelona, Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich or Manchester United, their titles."
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola: "We don't have the history, the shirt of Barcelona, Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich or Manchester United, their titles."
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola: "We don't have the history, the shirt of Barcelona, Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich or Manchester United, their titles."

Manchester City has outshone Manchester United in recent years but manager Pep Guardiola believes his team is still a decade away from closing the gap on its bitter rival.

There has been a momentum shift in Manchester since City was purchased by the Abu Dhabi United Group, with the club claiming six major honours since 2011, including Premier League titles in 2012 and 2014.

City's fortunes have been in contrast to United, which has not won the Premier League since Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013 - failing to qualify for the Champions League on two occasions.

However, Guardiola - whose City is third in the table and seven points adrift of leader Chelsea with United sixth - feels the blue of Manchester must consistently compete in the Champions League if it is to catch its historic rival at Old Trafford.

"Tactics are so important because everybody has to know what they have to do on the pitch. The relationships and behaviours off the pitch between team-mates have to be as good as possible," Guardiola said in an edited extract from an interview with NBC Sports.

"Everything is important: your life, your private life, your relationship with the media. And especially we are going to try to convince this amazing club that they are good. They are good. And the fans as well; the fans have to believe they are good, the club are good, the players are good.

"We don't have the history, the shirt of Barcelona, Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich or Manchester United, their titles.

"To be in Europe – we have to try over the next decade to be there every year. That is the most important for the club, more than winning one title, believe me."

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