MANCHESTER, England — Pep Guardiola has said “nobody trusts” Manchester City following their downturn in form ahead of facing Liverpool.
Guardiola’s men lost to Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Leicester in December to fall to third and defeat to Liverpool would put them 10 points behind the Premier League leaders.
And ahead of Thursday’s encounter at the Etihad, Guardiola admitted he felt any Premier League team could beat his side — but challenged the champions to live with pressure situations.
“I know today nobody trusts us but it is what it is,” Guardiola said. [Liverpool] are in the moment the best team in Europe, in the consistency, the way they control the details in their game. We are going to focus on what we have to do to win the game. Everyone is talking as if we lose, but we can win.”
Guardiola again described Liverpool as “the best team in Europe” but says City have to beat them if they are to become one of the best in the world.
“We want to grow like a club so we have to play these kinds of games with the pressure it means,” he said.
“I have a feeling everyone can beat us but also that we can beat everyone. Last year we beat them 5-0 here. It is Liverpool, the best team in all England in history. We can beat them.