Pep Guardiola puts Liverpool on a par with great Barcelona side as he hails ‘incredible’ title rivals

Pep Guardiola puts Liverpool on a par with great Barcelona side as he hails ‘incredible’ title rivals
Pep Guardiola says beating an ‘incredible’ Liverpool team to the Premier League title this season would rank among his greatest achievements.The Manchester City manager rates Jurgen Klopp’s side as among the two best teams he has ever faced, putting them on a par with Barcelona under Luis Enrique when they had Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in attack.4

Pep Guardiola is a huge admirer of Jurgen Klopp’s side

Guardiola has won 25 trophies in a glittering career that includes spells in charge of Barca and Bayern Munich, but he feels he has never been pushed as hard as this season.City face Leicester at the Etihad Stadium in their penultimate league fixture on Monday – live on talkSPORT – needing to win to move back above Liverpool and put them in control of the title on the final day.“It’s the toughest league I’ve ever played as a manager, for the quality from the rivals, no doubts. That’s why being there is incredible,” Guardiola said.“But, of course, only one will take the prize and the other one will be at home sad.”4

How the top of the table looks ahead of City vs Leicester

Asked how he would rank title success, he said: “A lot, a lot. One of the biggest achievements.”City won the Premier League by 19 points and accrued a record 100 points last season but this term they have been matched almost blow for blow by Liverpool.Guardiola is delighted his players have been able to maintain the standards they set last year amid greater pressure.4

Man City need two wins from two to wrap up the title

He said: “Arriving at this stage, two games left with 92 points, after 100 points, that is the most satisfaction I’ve had as a manager. It’s not easy, honestly, and they did it again.“I would not say that 100 points was bad and that we are not satisfied with what we did last season but, at the same time, we were seven points behind (this season).“You give credit for the titles and how huge our rival is. In my career as a manager, I played against incredible sides and there are two that were ‘wow’.“One is the Barcelona of Luis Enrique with Neymar, (Lionel) Messi and (Luis) Suarez in front. The other is this Liverpool. I think they’re the best two sides I’ve faced as a manager.“That’s why being there, with it in our hands, fighting against them until the end, after being seven points behind – it’s incredible what we have done. But it will make more sense if we are able to lift the Premier League.”City have shown their champion quality by winning their last 12 games. Since the shattering blow of Champions League elimination last month they have come through some stern tests against Tottenham, Manchester United and Burnley. But they will still need two more wins to complete the job.4

Pep Guardiola is looking to secure back-to-back titles with Man City

Guardiola said: “I think in the last games of the season when everyone plays for something, always the games are more tight. People take more caution about what happens.“We play for the Premier League and sometimes your mind is thinking a little bit about what will happen. That’s normal.“What’s important is at Burnley we didn’t concede one shot on target or one corner away. That’s awesome, that is incredible.“We created enough chances to score more goals and on Monday we’ll try the same.”The huge Premier League clash between Manchester City and Leicester is live on talkSPORT on Monday, kick-off 8pm

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