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Manchester. – Pep Guardiola has insisted Manchester City cannot yet declare themselves ready to match the level of English Premier League soccer title-holders Chelsea.

Guardiola says his free-scoring Manchester City side can still improve – in a chilling message to English Premier League rivals – but is refusing to get carried away by their electrifying early-season form. City hammered Watford 6-0 at Vicarage Road on Saturday, to complete three wins in seven days, scoring 15 goals without reply.

Sergio Aguero’s sixth Premier League hat trick leaves the 29-year-old three goals shy of breaking City’s all-time scoring record, held by Eric Brook with 177 strikes. Not even Saturday’s six-star showing, nor the 5-0 thumping of Liverpool could convince Guardiola to lay bare City’s intentions for the campaign however.

Hailing full-back recruits Kyle Walker, Danilo and Benjamin Mendy for transforming City’s blueprint, Guardiola, whose side are top of the Premier League alongside Manchester United, said his team are nowhere near their peak.

Asked if he considers City now ready to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Chelsea, Guardiola only replied: “We will see. But I think we’ve made a step forward in terms of last season.

“My feeling now is that everybody knows what we have to do, the players know what they have to do, with, without the ball in transition. And that’s so important.’’ – ESPN.