Man City boss Pep Guardiola is shocked by claiming the Chelsea title – is he right? | Football | sport

Chelsea was a backbone alongside the defending champions, inflicting their first loss this season at Stamford Bridge in December.

Guardiola held two games in less than two weeks on Sunday and the Carabao Cup final in two weeks will be a key factor in the success of the City season.

"The season for them is exceptional," Guardiola said.

"They reached the final of the Carabao Cup, in the Europa League they are easy and in the PL they are present, even if people do not believe it, they have a chance to become champions.

"They are nine points [behind] but there are a lot of games to play. "

Guardiola has repeatedly said how he was a fan of Maurizio Sarri, saying that last season Napoli was the best offensive team in Europe.

And although the pressure on the Italian increased as Chelsea lost ground in the Premier League, Guardiola insisted that the Stamford Bridge board had to be patient.

"Everyone has to work and create something, it takes time. My feeling was at Community Shield, they had done a lot of things and were already there. Sometimes you need more time, but I see how they play and I recognize what they want to do, "Guardiola said.

"Maybe other people do not see what they want to do. You see the team and the players on the bench.

"It's Chelsea, they have midfielders who are the best in the world, a good goalkeeper, experienced defenders, they're organized."

On Friday, Guardiola responded to criticism from UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin that Manchester City would have disrespected the VAR governing body summit by not sending their manager to Frankfurt Monday.

The City boss said that preparations for Wednesday's Premier League game against Everton took precedence and insisted that the club send badistant coach Brian Kidd.

"He was present at the meeting and I have the report at my table," Guardiola said.

"I went there but the Premier League decided to put the game at Everton there so that I could not travel anymore.

"Someone from the club was there, we were involved in that. So, Mr. Ceferin – we were not in that position. "