LONDON — Manchester City underlined their dominance in the Premier League with an emphatic 4-1 victory over West Ham United but Pep Guardiola says he needs one or two new players in the summer.
City equalled the record for most wins in a Premier League season (30) and brought up a century of goals as they moved onto 102 for the campaign. Two more goals will set a new Premier League record while another win would see them break the 95-point record set by Chelsea in 2004-05.
Guardiola, who has overhauled the squad since his arrival two years ago, says a couple of additions will keep the squad fresh while he is also determined to challenge for the Champions League following their quarterfinal exit this season.
“Don’t worry, we are going to spend a lot of money next season as well — maybe £1 billion or something,” he joked during his news conference.
“It’s the same question with Chelsea four years ago, when they were not good the next season. Next season everyone starts with zero points. We need something.
“We need to touch something, the team. Maybe one. Maybe two. No more than that, for next year.”
Despite their dominance against West Ham and the Premier League title being won two weeks ago, Guardiola was still driving his players on from the touchline and insisted they can still make improvements.
“Football is not a finished business, we can be more clinical,” he added. “The last five or 10 minutes of the first half was not good.
“At 4-1 we weren’t hungry enough to score another one. Individual mistakes, our full-backs not controlling the players inside. There are many aspects we can improve.
“If it was perfect, I would not be here next season. I would be done. The level of consistency was high this season, yes. Our strikers have an average age of 22. For 20 guys in our squad, this will be the first time they’ve won the Premier League. We are a young team in terms of many circumstances. That’s why it’s good.
“The target next season is to keep this consistency, the discipline — the recent Premier League, teams were not able to do that. That is the challenge.”
As part of his changes to the squad, Guardiola jettisoned England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who joined the Hammers on loan after a spell with Italian club Torino.
He wasn’t eligible to face his parent club at the London Stadium and he still has one year remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium.
“I think the toughest decision I’ve made since I am a manager,” he said. “He is an incredible professional when we were together, and no doubts about his quality. But I am here to make decisions, sometimes good, sometimes not. We find out in the future.
“He’s our player and, if he does not continue here next season, we will talk. We are going to speak with the club and will take the right decision for him.”
Jonathan is ESPN FC’s Manchester City correspondent. Follow him on Twitter: @jonnysmiffy.
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