Guardiola wants Manchester City players to be 'more clinical' despite 19 winning streak

Pep Guardiola warned his forwards that Manchester City must kill teams off more efficiently in the Champions League despite swatting away Borussia Monchengladbach.

Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus netted either side of half-time to put City in charge of their last-16 tie but the performance in the final third left their manager wanting more.

‘We were not clinical enough up front,’ Guardiola said. ‘Not clinical enough in the actions one against one with the keeper and defenders. We have to be better.

‘It's something we have to improve in this competition. We don’t have much margin in Europe. When you are one on one, three on two, you have to at least the keeper make a save.

‘We created a lot of chances in the final third, we committed their central defenders and we have to finish better. It was just today that it happened. It’ll be different another day. We change absolutely nothing.’

The victory, secured after Guardiola made five changes to the side that beat Arsenal on Sunday, was City’s 19th on the spin.

Although the Catalan wanted to board the flight back from Budapest with more than a two-goal advantage, Gladbach did not register a shot on target until the final kick of the first leg.

The 28 shots City have faced in their seven games is the fewest in the competition this season, with Real Madrid next in line on 48.

‘That (the defensive unit) is why we have won 19 games in a row,’ Guardiola added. ‘Everyone in the team is involved. We make an incredible effort, that is why the opposition are in positions only few times. Football is not attack and defence, it is all together.

‘We knew how physical Gladbach were. They have movements in behind, we have to defend a big space. Kyle Walker was exceptional. It is the first step before the second leg in many weeks’ time. We have to think about recovery and West Ham in three days.

‘Today we did everything good but didn’t dribble and shoot [properly] and that’s what we have to improve in the next three days.’

Guardiola added: ‘We have a lot of money to buy incredible players. Without this quality of players you cannot do it. The players are fantastic. We have incredible relationships and play every game thinking: “Just this one, win this game.” We will enjoy the night, our food, and then West Ham.’