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Pep Guardiola has had almost a week to digest the lessons of the shocking loss to Leicester.
But the Manchester City manager said he is not contemplating the fact that they are already six points behind Liverpool, albeit with a game in hand.
City are heading to Elland Road tomorrow for another tough Premier League match against promoted Leeds, who almost surprised Liverpool in a thrilling 4-3 loss at Anfield on the opening weekend.
City conceded five goals for the first time under Guardiola, and the first time at home in 17 years, as they fell 5-2.
Guardiola said before that game that he would not tolerate excuses from his players after a terrible preseason that saw them return to training a week after everyone else except Manchester United.
But he did refer to the interrupted preseason, with players returning from international service dribbling and monotonous, as well as suffering three positive Covid-19 tests and a handful of injuries, as reasons for the poor display.
Guardiola said his players were eager to get that result out of their systems, and that is why he lined up such a strong team at Burnley at the Carabao Cup in the middle of the week, and pulled off a 3-0 win.
“I know we are still a bit far from our best, for many reasons, but it is what it is,” Guardiola said.
“We lost to Leicester not because of lack of physical condition or because we don’t have multiple players, or whatever.
“When you give three penalties the way we did, it is difficult to win games, so we have to look at ourselves.
“We are still not where we should be for the reasons at that time, for the injuries, for the Covid, for many reasons but it is what it is.
“If we start to complain we are not going to take any step forward, and the big clubs that want to try to achieve good things take a step forward with the situations they have.”
City and defending champions Liverpool have raised the bar in the past two seasons, between them registering the four highest points in English top flight history.
And that means any slip-up is seen as a nail in the coffin of a club’s title hopes – some have already decided Liverpool are on their way to a successful title defense after a smooth and trouble-free start to the season and nine points. of three games.
Guardiola said he’s not even contemplating the effect Leicester’s loss will have.
“It’s the second game, we’ve played one game less, so we’re going to play the third game,” he said. “Honestly, I am not thinking about the points we have to get for the title, I am worried and focused on tomorrow, the way we have to play, the players that I need to select.
“Sooner or later I have to give minutes to players who come back from an injury or Covid.
“In the meantime, try to score points in the league, qualify for the cups and go game by game.
“You see the calendar, we don’t have much time for the days off, there are games every three days, so this is what we have to do and then we will see the results and the consequences of what we have done.”
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