Pep Guardiola sends Arsenal ominous warning after Man City beat Real Madrid

Manchester City came from behind to beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, but Pep Guardiola insists that his team aren’t the finished article

Pep Guardiola has ominously warned Manchester City’s rivals that they’ll only get better after beating Real Madrid in their own backyard. City won 2-1 at the Bernabeu on Wednesday to boost their hopes of automatic qualification in the Champions League by jumping up to fourth place.

It was City’s fourth successive win in all competitions, a run which has seen them cut the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal down to just two points. But Guardiola believes that his side have more gears to go through and is certain that they ‘will be better’ in February.

“We are (far) away,” the City manager told TNT Sports post-match. “Still we are not ready. In February, we will be better.

“We have been here in the past, playing much than today, and we have lost. That’s football sometimes. “The players made an incredible effort, it was an incredibly good result, the spirit is unbelievable, but there are still margins to improve.”

First-half goals from Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland turned the game on its head after Rodrygo had put Real ahead. Last season, City were knocked out by Real as both teams found themselves in the play-offs for the proper knockout stages.

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A fourth-place finish would guarantee Guardiola’s men home advantage until at least the semi-finals, a new rule which UEFA have implemented this season. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manger mentioned Arsenal, who are also top of the Champions League table, as one of the contenders to win the competition.

“Winning in the Bernabeu is a big big task, really big task, especially in this competition, don’t misunderstand me,” Guardiola added. “But at the same time in February, March we are able to go through the level to arrive in semi-finals, finals, requires a better performance than today.

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“It is not enough to be there. There are many good things, I am so pleased for the players for the effort, soul and heart and how they run but here and Anfield and PSG, (Borussia) Dortmund, Arsenal, Barcelona, knowing the players we will be better.

“We will improve, that’s for sure. Five, six or seven players come here for the first time and we have to live that experience. Experiencing winning will help us.”

City travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday, the day after Arsenal host rock-bottom Wolves. Guardiola’s men then welcome Brentford in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

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