Guardiola: City need a decade to reach the heights of Barca

Pep Guardiola admits his Manchester City side are a long way off matching the likes of Spanish giants Barcelona, but has called for patience from fans as he looks to steer the Citizens to the very top.

The Spaniard, who spent five years in charge at the Nou Camp before enjoying a three-year spell at Bayern Munich, moved to the Etihad last summer with City finishing third in the Premier League at the end of his first season.

Their Champions League campaign was cut short in the last 16 by Monaco, marking it the first occasion a Guardiola-led side had ever missed out on the semi-final stage.

City have spent a reported £76.5million this summer on Bernardo Silva and Ederson, but despite links with more players, Guardiola admits it could be a decade until his side are challenging the very best teams in the world.

(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“I’m not going to change because I don’t know how to do things in another way,” said Guardiola.

“Here, just as it is everywhere, it’s 11 against 11 and in same space. The difference is that the referee allows more and then the game is more balanced.

“I hope to do quite well, as I did in the first season, because I’ve enjoyed it. There are some people who say it hasn’t gone well but the exception is what we have done until now.

“Seven years as a professional head coach and six league titles, and with respect to the one that was lost, there is plenty to discuss. Always in the Champions League semi-finals. This year, we weren’t there, but not even Barca have reached the semi-finals every year.

“City are a great team, they’ve been in the Champions League for five consecutive years, the only team in England to have done so, but to reach Barca, Real Madrid, Bayern, Juventus… it’s very tough. You need time, a decade.”