“I know you like to hear, ‘It is the toughest one, congratulations’. You are the most viewed. Of course the Premier League is tough, so tough. But I would not say going to the [Santiago] Bernabeu, Camp Nou, [Athletic] Bilbao, Sevilla is easy. Because in the last decade all the Spanish teams arrive in the Champions League and Europa League. Winning the Europa League — like Sevilla did three times in a row. The Premier League will be tough when — this is going to happen — with five teams in the Champions League, they can achieve the last rounds. After we can say, ‘That is the toughest league’. We have to make that step.”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes the Premier League still has steps to take to become the toughest domestic club competition.