Pep Guardiola insists Man City have a ‘bright future’ despite conceding his side are ‘far away’ from contending

Pep Guardiola is adamant that the future is bright for Manchester City but he concedes that his side are currently ‘far away’ from being title contenders.

City lost 2-0 at home to Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday. That result saw leaders Liverpool extend their lead over second-place Arsenal to 11 points, while moving 20 clear of City in fourth.

Despite his side losing for the 14th time in their last 27 matches, Guardiola was encouraged by what he saw at the Etihad Stadium.

‘If you lose, you have to lose the way we lost today,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘I saw many things that this club has a bright future with the players that we have.

‘Except Kevin de Bruyne and maybe Nathan Ake, all the players are so, so young. Whatever the club decides next for the future, there is a bright future for this club in the next years.

‘Everyone knows that a part will be here next season for the older players but we have to build for the next step. There is a question of time.’

Guardiola’s side lost for the 14th time in 27 games on Sunday when they were beaten at home

The average age of the City team on Sunday was 25.68. Guardiola was missing several senior stars, including Erling Haaland, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Rodri. 

Guardiola added: ‘Even with the amount of absences we have, we played well.

‘They break the lines and can break behind you. They really threaten but we bring them there and all we missed is that in the final third. It depends on the talent to dribble or shoot in the right moment.

‘We build for the future. We are far away. We will see in the future. What we have done in previous seasons is good but now we are away from them.’

City won the Premier League last season for a record-breaking fourth year in a row. In total, Guardiola has delivered 18 trophies since he arrived in Manchester in July 2016.

But, after being knocked out of the Champions League earlier in the week, their only chance of adding to their trophy tally between now and the end of the current season is by winning the FA Cup.

Sunday’s victory was Liverpool‘s first away at the Etihad Stadium since April 2018 and their first there in the Premier League since 2015.

Despite their poor recent history in east Manchester, Liverpool started Sunday’s game as clear favourites and they lived up to that tag by making a brilliant start. The Reds were 2-0 up inside 37 minutes thanks to strikes from Mo Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Mo Salah (left) scored the opening goal on Sunday to set Liverpool on their way to a 2-0 win

No 8 Dominik Szoboszlai doubled Liverpool’s lead at the Etihad Stadium in the 37th minute

City dominated possession in the second half but it was Liverpool who came closest to scoring the third goal.

Indeed, Liverpool briefly thought that they had made it 3-0 before Curtis Jones saw his effort ruled out following a VAR review for offside.

Liverpool now have 11 league games remaining – seven of which will be played on home soil at Anfield.

Distant title rivals Arsenal have 12 fixtures left to play – six at home and six away, including a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool in May.