Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City players that they must drastically improve their performance levels to win trophies, despite a -0 win over West Ham that sent them top of the Premier League.
Manchester City reclaimed the top spot in the Premier League with a 3-0 victory over West Ham, but manager Pep Guardiola was far from satisfied.
Despite early goals from Erling Haaland and Tijjani Reijnders putting the champions in control, the manager delivered a stinging assessment of his side’s technical performance.
Guardiola warned that while the result looks comfortable, the current level of play will not be sufficient to secure silverware this season.
The Catalan coach expressed concern over his team’s inability to control the game through possession, noting that the Hammers were allowed too many opportunities to fight back.
Although Haaland eventually sealed the win with his second goal of the match, Guardiola highlighted a lack of composure.
“I always have to thank Erling for the goals,” Guardiola said, but he insisted that the overall ball-playing must improve if they are to sustain a title charge.
Heading into the busy festive period, the City boss is focused on bridging the gap between their current form and their historical standards.
He praised the defensive contributions of younger players like Nico O’Reilly but maintained that technical errors are still a major hurdle.
“It will not be enough!” Guardiola cautioned, emphasizing that being at the summit of the table means nothing if the team’s core identity and execution remain flawed.