Manchester City lost the first game of their Premier League title defence on Saturday night as Chelsea stunned them 2-0.
But City boss Pep Guardiola is unfazed by the defeat at Stamford Bridge, saying the loss that cost them the lead at the top of the table to Liverpool was inevitable.
City lacked the cutting edge of the injured Sergio Aguero up front as despite dominating the first half, they failed to profit with Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane missing big chances.
The visitors were then hit with a sucker punch right on halftime when N’Golo Kante fired Eden Hazard’s pass into the roof of the net with Chelsea’s first serious attack.
Defender David Luiz scored the second.
RELAXED: City boss Guardiola. Photo: WILL OLIVER/EPA
Taking it on the chin, Pep says: “I said that is not going to happen.
"We are not here to be invincible, we are here to be champions.
“We are calm, we move forward, it is part of the competition. There is no sport in the world – tennis, basketball, golf – that one team win always.
“When people are saying that, they are selling an illusion.”
Against a fired-up Blues side, Pep warned his team that these are the type of tests that they will have to pass if they are to lift this season’s Champions League trophy, a tournament in which face they Hoffenheim on Wednesday needing a point to win their group.
The two-time winning coach says: “That is the Champions League level. People say Man City are favourites for the Champions League.
“That is what is going to happen in the future on the biggest stages, but the way we played [on Saturday] is absolutely incredible.”