Pessimistic Pep outlines City limits

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is not hopeful his team can catch Premier League leader Chelsea despite Monday's 2-0 win at Bournemouth that cut the gap to eight points.

City leapfrogged Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool into second place as a goal in each half earned its third straight league victory.

But Guardiola can't imagine Chelsea letting such a commanding lead slip over the remaining 13 matches.

"It's so difficult because they have to lose three games and we have to win all the games and you know how difficult it is to win all the games in the Premier League," said Guardiola.

"Before this game we were sixth and after the game we are second.

"That means the gap in those teams is nothing. But to Chelsea, still the gap is massive. Eight points is such a lot."

It was an accomplished performance by City, which was slick in possession and lethal on the counter attack.

"I am so happy for the result," said Guardiola.

"We played really good in all circumstances, especially in the last ten, 15 minutes. We had a thousand, million passes. We monopolized the ball. We controlled the game with the passes. It's the best way to avoid the opponents."

Raheem Sterling drilled a shot off the post three minutes before his opener, on an assist by Leroy Sane.

"Since the game against Arsenal, I think he (Sane) has clicked," said Guardiola.

"He's so fast, his intensity helped us a lot and he's 20 years old so, I'm so happy for Manchester City because we will have a good player for many years."

'Pray for Jesus'

The victory came at the cost of an injury to prodigious Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus who, up until withdrawing with a foot injury after 14 minutes, had been keeping Sergio Aguero out of City's starting XI since his arrival last month.

"Tomorrow morning we'll know more," Guardiola said of the injury, with the City manager adding he planned to "pray for Jesus".

Aguero made the impact Guardiola hoped for.

City's second goal came when Sterling bamboozled Adam Smith with a series of step-overs and crossed for Aguero, who ricocheted a shot off the toe of Cherries defender Tyrone Mings and into the net.

"I'm happy for him (Aguero). For how he played, for how he fights," said Guardiola.

"He's an important player but for the last three games he didn't play because the three guys in front were amazing."

Bournemouth remains winless this year and is six points from safety.

"I can't ask anymore of the players in terms of how they conducted themselves tonight," said Cherries boss Eddie Howe.

"I just thought City was better.

"I thought they were very very good, but my players couldn't have given any more to the game physically. The attitude and the motivation was at a really good level. I think today is a positive step forward for the team."

Howe's cause wasn't helped by injuries to defender Simon Francis and on-loan Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere.

"He's just feeling his ankle," Howe said of Wilshere. "I don't think there's any major injury there."