Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has joked Manchester United need not be scared that Manchester City are still in the hunt for a treble this season.

Manchester United won the treble in 1999, winning the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup. City have a chance to do same this season.

Guardiola said: “They don’t have to be scared, we are neighbours! Neighbours are always nice to each other.

“No, I said yesterday we are far away from this kind of situations – the treble and this discussion. Okay, for a funny moment is okay. The reality is to come here. I said many times, the most impressed I have for this club, the hierarchy and backroom staff is after many years, six years, winning titles and titles.

“When you lose you lose in last stages, final of the Champions League or FA Cup semi-finals, still we are there one more year. This is what I’m proud the most as manager. I love to be here and work with this club for that reason. One year you can do it. I don’t want to win one Champions League and after you are in the bottom and not fighting. Champions League destroys projects most of the time when you win and when you lose, this club is quite stable in that terms.

“Of course we won Premier League and other titles otherwise would be another manager. I’m not stupid, I know to analyse the team, what we need, what we’re doing, not come for specific results. That’s why after 6 years, we are in the latter stages with seven weeks left, still fighting for titles. Okay we lost in the Carabao Cup but still we are here to lose the titles. This is the most important trophy we can get.

“Thank you so much for the people, I said to the guys. The last three years, the worst performances we have done is the FA Cup semi finals, we were not here. Today travel a lot of people from Manchester, they don’t have the privilege we have, so at least we have to perform well. Win or lose, perform how we are. The first minute, in the warm up, locker room, we were there. That’s why we could win.”