'Nobody likes it' - what Man City's biggest rivals have said about them this season

Even though they are sat in second place in the Premier League table, many pundits and fans still believe Manchester City will be led to yet another top-flight title by Pep Guardiola this season.

Dropping points on four occasions in their 14 games played so far is not a bad return from City. They have fared better than this in years gone by, but by setting standards so ridiculously high for themselves, a natural drop-off isn't anything that should be looked upon shamefully. 40 goals in 14 games, just 14 conceded and averaging more than 2 points per game, City are on course to record a solid total of 87 points.

However, Arsenal's form has provided reason to worry. Former City assistant Mikel Arteta is creating his own legacy at the Emirates Stadium with the help of ex-City stars Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko. But many believe City's squad depth will be the prove to be the difference at the end of the season.

Let's see what their rivals have said about City since the start of the season.

"Nobody can compete with City," the Liverpool manager said back in October.

"You have the best team in the world and you put in the best striker on the market. No matter what it costs, you just do it. City won't like it, nobody will like it, but you know the answer."

“The Premier League is very difficult. In my opinion, I think we have just started a path to fight for something important. We have just started. City, Liverpool and Chelsea have been very competitive and won a lot.

“Every season they fight to win competitions. In our minds and heart, the ambition has to be to grow. When you have a massive game every three days you need a good squad. Sometimes you can rest or start on the bench and the next game you will play."

"As a team, as individuals, we will criticise each other tomorrow and we have to learn the lessons, do better and that’s starting next game. A team like City, they give you the status of where you are at this moment.

"We did well against top teams like Liverpool and Arsenal, we were disciplined, following the rules and principles, and we had belief, on the front foot defending. When you’re not front foot, when you’re not brave enough to play, you get a result like today.”

The Dortmund manager said after the loss to City back in September: “For me, it’s the third time we’ve played against them and the third time we’re going home empty-handed. It’s really bitter because the boys would have deserved at least a point. You could see the kind of quality City have. When we run out of steam, they up the ante.

"Not many players in the world would score that goal [Haaland's goal]. In recent years, we have benefited from him scoring goals like that for us. That makes it very frustrating and bitter that he did it for the opposing team today. We had the Man City attack under good control and almost entirely stopped the service to Erling."

"People saw you as an English coach and there was a bit of negativity around that. There was a generalisation of an English coach, but I have just been myself. I was there for seven years so I learned a lot.

"I remember the first time when Jose Mourinho first came to England as the Chelsea manager, I think he had a massive impact on the Premier League and football in this country. Pep’s influence has been huge, so those two spring to mind."