An uncompromising Guardiola has warned his players they will not challenge for the Premier League title unless they improve. Despite an eighth successive home league win, Guardiola was still unhappy and, in an impassioned address, told his players that their positional play would have to get better if they are serious about winning a seventh title in 10 seasons. “The way we play with the ball we have to improve, otherwise it will not be enough to arrive in March, April to be contenders to win the title,” the City manager said. “I want to be honest with myself. I said to the players, ‘So Merry Christmas for everyone’. But it will not be enough if we don’t improve. “Defensively we are improving. We are visualising it with the ball. But the way you attack depends on how the opponents defend and you have to be in the right spots and positions to be more fluid, and we were not.  “Don’t misunderstand me, I am delighted, happy and these guys are top, they follow us …