Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said on Thursday that last season’s remarkable treble success was a “once in a lifetime” achievement as he tried to lower expectations on the eve of a new campaign. 

City, bidding to become the first side to win four consecutive English top-flight titles, start the Premier League season away to Burnley on Friday. They will be favourites for every competition they enter but Guardiola warned against a repeat of last term’s triumphs, which also saw City crowned champions of Europe for the first time as well as lifting the FA Cup.