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Manchester City haven't progressed under Pep Guardiola, says Sunday Supplement panel

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Man City have not improved under Pep Guardiola this season, according to the Sunday Supplement panel.

Manchester City have not progressed under Pep Guardiola this season, according to the Sunday Supplement panel.

The former Barcelona boss took over at the Etihad Stadium to much fanfare in the summer, but his side find themselves 12 points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea and were knocked out by Monaco in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The Daily Star's Chief Sports Writer Jeremy Cross believes even an FA Cup victory will not be enough for it to be considered a successful season for Guardiola.

Pep Guardiola prior to kick-off at the Etihad Stadium
Image: Guardiola still has a lot to prove in English football

"Guardiola is having a difficult season and he's finding English football is not the walkover it was in Germany," Cross told the Sunday Supplement.

"The only trophy they can win is the FA Cup, but would that be an acceptable season? I think the owners would probably be hoping for a bit more than that. And it will crank up the pressure on him again if he doesn't win it.

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"Guardiola still has a lot to prove in English football."

Cross also believes Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is another manager with plenty to prove in English football.

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"Liverpool have faded badly in 2017, they couldn't win a raffle after the New Year and there are some suggestions that his players look tired," he said. "They play a high pressing game which is very intense and there are question marks over whether they can sustain that for a whole season."

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Man City 1-1 Liverpool

However, the Daily Mirror's Chief Sports Writer Andy Dunn, who joined Cross on the Sunday Supplement, says that he would be happy for the two managers to stay in England for as long as possible if they continue to produce matches like the draw between City and Liverpool at the Etihad last week.

"If they produce games of football like last Sunday then we're very lucky to have them," said Dunn. "I could watch those games week in, week out in that sense.

"The reason we have these Galactico managers is because we pay Galactico wages. It might not be for the superstar players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but the place to manage is in the Premier League."

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