Saturday 20 May 2017 20:37, UK
Aleksandar Kolarov is adamant Manchester City are the best team in the Premier League, despite currently being 15 points behind champions Chelsea.
In Pep Guardiola's first season in charge, City started the league season with six straight wins but failed to mount a sustained Premier League title challenge and saw their campaign in the Champions League ended at the last-16 stage.
They face Watford on the final day of the season, live on Sky Sports 2 HD, needing a point to secure Champions League football for a seventh consecutive season.
And Kolarov thinks City have made improvements under Guardiola despite not winning a trophy.
"If you don't win trophies at our club it's probably not a great season but we've improved a lot," Kolarov told Sky Sports.
"The main target for this club is to win domestic trophies and of course win the Champions League.
"The target of every big club is Champions League finals and the Champions League trophy. The most beautiful football is in Europe in the Champions League and that is a target for the team and our club for next season.
"We are a much better team even now from the start of the season," the Serbia international added.
"We are going to be there to win trophies again and I'm sure we are going to win. We are far and away the best team in the league."
City's failure to win a trophy this season means Guardiola will finish a campaign without silverware for the first time in his career.
But despite City's mixed season, Kolarov insists the Spaniard is the best coach he has ever worked under and has targeted winning more titles with the club, starting next season.
"We didn't win the title but we've improved a lot as players and a team under Pep," the full-back added. "I am nearly 32-years-old and, for me, he is the best coach I've ever worked with.
"The things that have happened this season cannot happen next season. We will be much, much stronger.
When asked what the minimum requirement for Manchester City to produce next season would be, he replied: "To win. Winning helps you win again. We need to win titles, that's simple."
City head to Vicarage Road on Sunday knowing they need only a draw if they are to secure Champions League football for next season.
Guardiola has described his side's last Premier League game of the season as being "like a final" but Kolarov does not think the pressure will get to his side.
"It's the normal pressure we have before every game not just because it's the last game. At our club we expect to win every game. Our focus is to win the game and finish third."
