JAKARTA - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed his confidence that his team could compete again in the top flight of the Premier League after silencing Chelsea 3-1 in the 17th match at Stamford Bridge, London, Sunday local time (Monday WIB).

"We played very well, unfortunately we conceded at the end of the match, but the win at Stamford Bridge is still fantastic," said Guardiola after the match.

"Today we returned to our previous level of play, with an important away win at Chelsea," he added.

Not only have they managed to wrap up a poor record of defeats in the last two trips to Stamford Bridge, City have also continued a series of positive trends without losing their last seven Premier League games, five of which have resulted in victories.

This good trend seemed to reverse the fortunes of City, which started the season quite shaky and now they climbed to fifth position-the highest ranking this season - with a collection of 29 points.

City are now only four points behind Liverpool who are at the top and Manchester United in second place, provided The Citizens have two saved games yet to be played.

"Sometimes in the Premier League everything is strange. Everything is strange, so we can only focus on the game that is being played, the rest is better to take it easy," said Guardiola.

"We have to be able to show our own rhythm. We won the Premier League in that way, are more patient, calm and we lost that rhythm this season for several reasons. The way we won today was the way we won the Premier League title two seasons in a row, "he concluded.

Before concentrating as Premier League contenders, Guardiola must first turn his attention to the English League Cup where they will undergo a semi-final at the headquarters of city rivals, MU, on Wednesday, January 6.


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