Pep Guardiola is satisfied with Manchester City's start to the season, despite falling to a frustrating 2-1 loss to Brentford on Saturday.
A sub-par City were turned over by a brilliant Brentford performance, with an Ivan Toney goal in the eighth minute of injury time sending City into the World Cup break with the bitter taste of defeat. City had drawn themselves level in first-half stoppage time when Phil Foden rifled into the top corner, but in the second half they could not find a way through a stubborn Brentford defence and were punished with a late counter-attack.
City's second league defeat of the season leaves them with 32 points from 14 games, second place in the standings and two points behind league leaders Arsenal. However, with Mikel Arteta's side set to play Wolves on Saturday evening, the gap could yet grow to five points.
READ MORE: City players proved Guardiola right in defeat to Brentford
It was a disappointing way to end the first part of the season, but Guardiola was keen to stress that overall his side have made a good start to their Premier League title defence.
"It's been good before today," Guardiola said of his side's league campaign. "We go away with the feeling we lost so it's always more difficult but this is the reality of this competition.
"We finished [first in the group] in the Champions League and Carabao Cup we are through and in the Premier League of course we are close to Arsenal that had been really good.
"Now we will be a little bit behind. It is what it is. But the second half of the season will dictate where we are."
Arsenal have led the standings for most of the season, but plenty of neutrals insist that City are favourites to win the title. Guardiola was not having any of that, keen as ever to give rivals credit when it's due.
"If you are first in the Premier League it is because you are the best," Pep said. "We will try and come back and afterwards and we will try to see."
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