Pep Guardiola says the challenge of seeking to overhaul newly crowned champions Liverpool – both in the immediate and long term – is something he and the City players will relish.


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Liverpool will step out at the Etihad Stadium for tomorrow night’s eagerly-awaited Premier League encounter having just succeeded City as champions.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the boss was full of admiration for the job his Anfield counterpart Jurgen Klopp has done.

But he also stressed that Liverpool’s success had merely further ignited his own desire to not dwell on past glory, but to instead seek to improve again and strive to reclaim the league crown next term.“In sport you have to prove (yourself) every time. We are satisfied with what we are doing but the past is the past,” Guardiola declared.

“What we have done remains in our soul and memories.

“Now we must go on… it’s a new chapter in our lives and you have to live it.“Memories are nice for family and friends – people say I don’t have to show anything but I don’t agree with that. Every time you have to do it again.

“The winner does not want to be beaten and we are going to try to fight with Liverpool and the other opponents for the next chapters in the Premier League.”

Asked to analyse what had proved the difference between the sides this season, the boss was crystal clear in his response.