Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is relishing the prospect of Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan being available as he targets further improvement in his side.
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“He is so strong, I saw the game again yesterday to realise what kind of things we did good and what kind of things we need to improve on”, said Guardiola.
“It is already a step up from the Louis van Gaal reign but, for now, they have some catching up to do to get to City’s level”.
Manchester City’s form must improve before Pep Guardiola considers them capable of winning titles.
City maintained their 100 per cent start to life under Guardiola with a 2-1 derby victory at Manchester United on Saturday.
“We made good things and bad things and we have to improve for the future”, Guardiola said.
“We have to improve to win the Premier League”.
And the Spaniard, making an assessment that might strike a nerve with Mourinho, said: “Until now, in the Premier League it has been okay – but to compete against the best clubs in Europe, in this moment with the way we are playing, we are not able to”.
Guardiola will welcome Sergio Aguero back from a domestic suspension, with captain Vincent Kompany and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan continuing to build their fitness, but much focus is likely to fall upon Bravo on his home debut following an erratic initial showing in City colours.
“But overall, it is a big compliment for the performance, because I know how hard it is to come here and play as we did, especially in the first half”. That is what I tried to say after the game. “When you make a situation for the goal – after that, he continued to play in our build-up and [went] for other long balls to pick them up. I’m pretty sure about that”.
De Bruyne – who opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a slotted finish, then saw his shot off the post in the 36th tee up Iheanacho – has emphasised how City had to battle to see out the victory.
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“They fought a lot, my players, so I have to control a little bit more my side”.
