Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has warned the club they could easily go the same way as Manchester United.
Guardiola is renowned for consistently demanding high standards and his relentless desire to improve.
Any drop in intensity, he feels, could allow rivals to catch up.
He said: “A long time ago (Manchester) United controlled this league like no other team.
“Could you imagine in that time it would be seven or eight seasons without them winning the Premier League?
“But it's happened, and if it happened to United it can happen to us tomorrow. Not next season, tomorrow.
“It happens because football is so difficult and unpredictable and because the human being is imperfect.
“The way you resolve is to look at ourselves. We don't play against – with all respect – our opponents, we play against us. We have to perform for ourselves as high as possible. We have to reach our best every single game."
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