Guardiola pleased with City's desire and passion | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola feels the last two Premier League games City have played, have been full of the character he recognises and wants to see.

The boss admits the midweek performance against Real Madrid was below par, but says he has seen many things he is pleased with against Newcastle and Liverpool.

Commenting on the 2-0 loss to Premier League leaders Liverpool, Guardiola said: “It’s not enough, but I recognise my team in the last two games in Premier Leagues.

“Newcastle and today we were brilliant in both. Madrid was not good enough over two games to go through, but today, the rhythm, pressing and solidarity from most of them playing in difficult positions… I approve of it, and it was really good.

“Analysing the game today was really good. We lost so there’s not much to say.

“How many times we arrive to the by-line is a dream, but then with the next thing after that we struggled and in the final third, we didn’t create much. It’s not easy.

“They have two or three players with Doku, central defenders, midfielders with Kevin De Bruyne, strikers go to the 18-yard box.

“Both our wingers were exceptional. All of the team are young players except Kevin and Nathan.

“So, so young team that are the future of this club. They face a team that could maybe win the Premier League, and we behave really, really good. It was a tight game [with] actions from set pieces.

“We miss just in the final third to be more creative. We didn’t create enough to score goals for the amount of times we were there.”

Asked if City were missing the presence of Erling Haaland and whether his team needed to create more chances without the prolific striker, Pep said: “I would say they defend really well and for me it would be easy to say yes, but it would be so unfair to my players who played today - they were exceptional.

“I know the team we played and there were some transitions we can improve on, but how many times were we there?

“Jeremy has an ability to attract two or three players and Savinho too - and there are players who are free. We have to be quick to finish actions.

“When Jeremy has the ball and [Trent] Alexander-Arnold, [Ryan] Gravenberch or [Mohamed] Salah go there [to challenge him], there are players who are free.

“We have to be quick and finish the action. There was one action that Nico put the ball in the by-line, and we cross.

“In these kinds of actions, they defend really well. This is what we needed to create a sense to the chance to score a goal. Our pressing was really good.”

The Blues are locked in a battle with several sides to achieve Champions League qualification for next season.

Pep says if that doesn’t happen, it won’t be for the want of not trying.

“It will not happen if we are not good enough,” he said.

“Not because of lack of passion or desire. We saw it against Newcastle and today. I don’t have any doubts about that. It’s so tight,

“Newcastle, Aston Villa and others. There are four or five teams fighting.

“It will not be easy, but it is what it is. We will try. If it happens it’s because we deserve it, if not it’s because we were not good enough. Simple.”