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Man City were the Premier League's best club of the decade - Guardiola

Manchester City were the Premier League's best club of the last decade, according to manager Pep Guardiola.

Over the last 10 years, City have claimed the domestic title on four occasions - two more times than nearest rivals Chelsea and Manchester United. 

The club played 381 league games in total over that span accruing 818 points, 71 more than the Red Devils who collected the second most. 

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While Pep Guardiola's side have now all but given up on the Premier League title this season, the Spaniard stressed that the club deserves some recognition for all it has achieved over the past 10 years.

"I think this club, in the last decade, was the best team," Guardiola said on Tuesday. "In terms of points, in terms of goals, titles and everything. So I congratulate Manchester City for that.

"So when we analyse every single day here, what happens day by day, we analyse that, but we have a perspective of what's happened in 10 seasons. 

"Especially when the people from Abu Dhabi took over the club and bought good players, interesting managers and bigger staff. I think we did it incredibly well.

"Because fighting with huge elephants here in England, the big clubs with the biggest history, with us in the last decade, we were a part of them, that is amazing."

Though the decade has ended with Manchester City sitting third in the Premier League, 14 points shy of runaway leaders Liverpool, Guardiola insisted 2019 itself was another successful year for the club. 

“People say ‘how was 2019?’ Now people are saying it is a disaster,” he said. “We won four titles. In some games in this last part of the year we have struggled but it was an incredible year for us."

Now well and truly part of England's elite, Guardiola hopes City can continue its rise and not rest on what it's achieved. 

“The big clubs in England are always looking forward. We are going to try and analyse not just in terms of the squad but as a club how we can do better," Guardiola added. 

"Hopefully in the next decade this club can be here for more time.”

Manchester City kick off 2020 at home against Everton on New Year's Day having won their last game of 2019 against Sheffield United 2-0. 

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