Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has rejected the notion that his side are the best team in world football, instead crediting Chelsea and River Plate who are winners of the European Champions League and the South American Copa Libertadores respectively.

The Spanish manager, whilst speaking after City’s 2-0 win at home against Brentford, was responding to a claim made by the opposing manager, Thomas Frank, that his team had just played against “the best team in the world.”

Guardiola said, “No – we are not the best team in the world. The best team is Chelsea who won the Champions League and River Plate because they won in South America. The important thing is tomorrow and in three days we go to Norwich and have to win the game.

“This thing about who is the best, I don’t care. Be happy and try to play better every day and, at the end, we will see.

“We are in a good position, 60 points at the moment. We have to qualify for the Champions League because that is the most important target, then the Premier League and then arrive in the last few games fighting for the title. This is what I want to do.

“Now we spoke with the rest of the players. Eat, rest, train, eat, rest, train because in three days we are away and then we have to travel to Portugal for the Champions League and everyone has to be ready,” Guardiola said.

He also refused to rule out a title push from rivals, Liverpool, even though he says he is happy that his side have been able to amass 60 points already after just 24 games.

“Liverpool have two games to play, then we see the gap – 14 games to play, many points to play for and more tough games like today,” Guardiola said when asked to reflect on the title race.

“Everyone is tough competition, but it is impressive at this stage to have 60 points – we have done incredibly well so far,” Guardiola added.