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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Gareth Bicknell

Pep Guardiola warns Man City players area they must improve to win Champions League

Pep Guardiola has told his Manchester City players they won't win the Champions League unless they become more ruthless in front of goal.

City made it 19 straight wins in all competitions by beating Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-0 in Budapest on Wednesday .

Goals from Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus put Guardiola's side in the driving seat in the last-16 tie - making them red-hot favourites to win Europe's top club competition for the first time.

City also have a commanding 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League, in which they are the second-highest scorers behind second-placed Manchester United.

Wednesday's win set a new record for an English top-flight team of 12 consecutive away wins in all competitions - while City are just two short of the club's all-time unbeaten run of 28 games.

Pep Guardiola fears City will be punished in Europe unless they become more clinical (AFP via Getty Images)

But despite their dominant performances at home and abroad, Guardiola says they must become more clinical in front of goal if they are to have a hope of winning the Champions League.

"We controlled the game and it was good. We scored two beautiful goals," said the manager, whose side had nine shots - four of which were on target.

"But unfortunately we were not clinical enough up front. That is something we need to improve in this competition. In this competition you have to be perfect to make sure you go through.

"We have to finish better. They have to know that in this competition you don't have that second chance. If there's one thing I'd like to improve it is this."

Bernardo Silva headed City into the lead against Borussia Moenchengladbach (AFP via Getty Images)

Guardiola reckons holders Bayern Munich should still be considered favourites to win the Champions League.

"When I see Bayern Munich - I don't think we are favourites," he said.

"If people say we are favourites then we have to accept it, but a team who in their whole history has been to a semi-final once? Okay, they say it, so we have to accept it."

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