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GUARDIOLA NOT CONCERNED BY CHELSEA LOSS

Manchester City suffered their first defeat of the Premier League season when they lost 2-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola is unconcerned by Manchester City relinquishing top spot in the Premier League after his side slumped to their first league defeat of the season at Chelsea.

Goals from N'Golo Kante and David Luiz ended City's unbeaten run, with Liverpool's earlier win over Bournemouth meaning the Reds lead the way after 16 games.

But Guardiola was in bullish mood despite the defeat, insisting that it was always unlikely City would go all season without suffering a defeat. Whilst some bookmakers had started offering fanciful odds on City copying Arsenal's 'invincible' season, those in the know - including those who offer daily free tips for the football - had backed Chelsea to be the ones to turn City over.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said in the press conference, "Everyone ask me about this, I said that it is not going to happen. We're not here to be invincible, or to be unbeaten, we are here to try to be champions. It doesn't matter. We want to make one point more than our opponents. Now, at the moment, Liverpool are better than us.

"We are in December, if you ask if Liverpool can win the Premier League, I would say yes. If you ask me if Tottenham, Arsenal or Chelsea can with the Premier League, I would say yes.”

Both Pep Guardiola and Maurizio Sarri lined up without recognized strikers in their starting XIs, with Raheem Sterling and Eden Hazard deployed in false nine roles.

And Guardiola, whose side dominated possession without offering the cutting edge required to make a breakthrough, joked that he and the Chelsea boss, Maurizio Sarri had agreed to play with identical systems.

He joked that he called Maurizio Sarri the day before the match and both of them decided to play the same way, concluding that he believes Sarri is an exceptional coach and he deserves all the credit and plaudits he is getting.

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