Pep Guardiola has told the rest of the Premier League they have their work cut out to reach the level of Manchester City and Liverpool .
City and Liverpool have set themselves apart from the rest of the top-flight this season, going neck-and-neck for the title and leaving the others trailing in their wake.
Guardiola's City won the title last season with a record-breaking haul of 100 points last season and can make it back-to-back league triumphs with three wins and a total points haul of 98.
Against that backdrop, Guardiola said Tottenham , Arsenal , Chelsea and Manchester United must reach in excess of 90 points in future seasons if they are to have any chance of catching City and Liverpool.
“Next season, Chelsea are getting better, United, Tottenham,” said Guardiola.
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“When you're 25 points above united, 22 ahead of the others, if you want to get better, you have to increase the standard.
“Before it was easier than last season - everybody could lose to anybody. This season two teams won a lot of games. That's the standard we have set.
“Like Usain Bolt when he does a 100 metre race – that's the standard. Other people have to reach it.
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“Like Jack Nicklaus with 18 Grand Slams and Tiger Woods, that’s the standard, it's the same. 100 points last season? If you want to compete you have to do that.
“I say right now, to maintain that level now, after what we’ve done, I'd sign for that. I don't expect more than that.
“To do that we have to push each other, knowing the other teams are at the same level as us, focus on every single game, do what you have to do to win that game, respect the opponents, work hard, improve on what we have done this season - that’s the only way I know.”
