Monday 16 January 2017 07:09, UK
Pep Guardiola has suggested the Premier League title will be beyond Manchester City this season after defeat at Everton left them 10 points behind leaders Chelsea.
City were beaten 4-0 at Goodison Park on Nissan Super Sunday - the heaviest league defeat in Guardiola's managerial career - and left them fifth in the table.
The result was also City's heaviest league loss since 2008 and while Guardiola felt his side were unfortunate and insisted they would continue to push hard, he admitted Chelsea’s lead over City was sizeable.
Asked if the gap to the top was now too great, Guardiola said: "By the first one? Yes. 10 points is a lot of points. The second one is three points. We have to see.
"In so many games we create enough chances, but when they arrive they score and the second time they arrive they score.
"That, for the mind of the players, is tough, mentally tough, and that is why we have to keep going, be strong and work harder."
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss denied he was now facing the toughest challenge of a managerial career.
He said: "I would say the exceptional situation was in the past. When you have eight years as a coach and you win seven titles and you're always winning – that is the exceptional situation.
"I have to look for the best solution to take the players to winning games again.
"I am happy in Manchester but, of course, it is the first time in my life I have conceded a lot of goals. It never happened before and I need to know the reason why."
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