Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola made a point about Liverpool as he issued an X-rated response to those who claim his side cannot be considered a 'success' until they win the Champions League.
Guardiola was in a fiery mood after City battled back from two goals down to beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 at the Etihad to put pressure back on Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Tottenham took a shock 2-0 lead into the break after Dejan Kulusevski and Emerson Royal scored in the dying embers of the first half. But the defending champions responded after the interval with Riyad Mahrez's brace completing their comeback after Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland struck to restore parity just eight minutes into the second half.
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Their win takes City to within five points of Arsenal, whose lead could be cut further before they host third-placed Manchester United on Sunday (4.30pm).
In recent seasons it has been Liverpool who have been at loggerheads with Guardiola's team in their quest for both domestic and European success.
But while the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has won four of the last five titles, pipping his opposite number Jurgen Klopp to top spot in two of those campaigns by the smallest margin, he has yet to win the Champions League with City. Unlike Klopp at Anfield.
And that was clearly on Guardiola's mind after the win over Tottenham. "This is a challenge, I want it, I expect that, I see the team do it but there is detail," said the Spaniard, who is clearly wanting to see more from his players ahead of their home clash with Wolves on Sunday (2pm).
"It's not about the way we play, the quality of the players, are you going to judge them? I love them.
"They're fantastic players. They are the details, it come from the success we had in the past. We have to admit it. We had success, people say, 'we haven't had success because we haven't won the Champions League' - bulls**t! We won a lot.
"We won a lot. In this country, two back-to-back (Premier Leagues) in this country, and the way we played, the consistency, against this Liverpool... What a success.
"We have to look at ourselves, it's not enough. It's not okay."
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