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Guardiola sees 'bright future' for Man City

Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku tries to go past Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold at the Etihad StadiumGetty Images

Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku in action against Liverpool

Simon Stone at Etihad Stadium
Chief football news reporter

In the midst of a wet, miserable Manchester day, when his team were put in their place by opponents who are on the verge of taking their crown, Pep Guardiola saw the brightness of a new Manchester City team emerge.

While City were swept aside by Premier League leaders Liverpool, Guardiola saw enough in his side to be confident for the future.

His team contained three players who have been with the club a matter of weeks, key men Erling Haaland and Rodri the most notable of five absentees, and with central defensive axis Ruben Dias limited to a 13-minute cameo off the bench as he strives for full fitness in his comeback from injury.

The average age of Manchester City's starting XI in this game was 25 years and 68 days - their t-youngest in a Premier League match under Guardiola.

"I saw a bright future," he told BBC Sport. "These players are so young.

"Other than Kevin [de Bruyne] and Nathan [Ake], they are the future of this club in the next years, with others who will come in future windows."

Guardiola namechecked wide duo Savinho and Jeremy Doku. It is safe to assume England international Phil Foden is also part of that group.

For others, like De Bruyne, central defender John Stones, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and England winger Jack Grealish, who remained on the bench throughout, the future is less certain.

City have a long-standing interest in Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiasso and over the past few days have been linked with Bayer Leverkusen's midfielder Florian Wirtz.

By the time Guardiola gets to the start of next season, his squad could look very different to the one that began this one.

Man City played well so I have no regrets - Guardiola

The former Barcelona and Bayern coach is not one for predicting the future but asked to respond to the post-match comments of Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who feels City will challenge strongly again next season, Guardiola said he hoped the Dutchman was right.

"I would like that," he said. "I know what we have done as a team. It's not enough but I recognise my team in the last two games in the Premier League - they were brilliant against both Newcastle and Liverpool.

"In Madrid it was not good enough in both games to try to go through but the pace today, the rhythm, the pressing, the solidarity for most of them playing in difficult positions, I approve it and it was really good."

City's eighth Premier League defeat of the campaign leaves them 20 points adrift of the champions-elect.

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