Ilkay Gundogan says Manchester City have been left behind in the Premier League title race this season because they have dropped too many points in games when they have performed well.
Gundogan insists City's performances have not necessarily slipped compared to their title-winning seasons in 2017/18 and 2018/19.
City will re-start their Premier League campaign knowing Liverpool need just two more wins to seal their first top-flight title in 30 years - something they can achieve before facing City on July 2.
Assessing why City have been unable to mount a serious challenge for the title this season, Gundogan praised Liverpool and rued a number of games where City dropped crucial points.
He told Fanatik: “We were left behind in the championship race this season in the Premier League. We couldn't show an effect like the last two seasons [when] we are champions.
"Whether we play good football or play good matches, there are points we have simply lost. Liverpool came to this level without losing much points, so we lost a lot of points, so the difference increased.”
Gundogan is one of a select group of players who have played under both City boss Pep Guardiola and Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp, so he is perhaps best placed to compare the management styles of the best two managers in the Premier League.
For Gundogan, though, the pair are the best two coaches in the world right now.
He said: “Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are the two best teachers in the world. Four years have passed with Klopp. A teacher I love very much. It creates an amazing team spirit and motivates footballers incredibly. The teams he runs struggle a lot, he runs a lot.
"Pep is at a very high tactical level. A teacher who wants to know every detail of the game. I have not seen a teacher who improved himself tactically. Their styles are different, but both are very successful. Although they are very different, they are both the world's top two teachers for now.”
