Manchester City go into their game against Wolves on Saturday with six points out of six and the best goal tally in the Premier League, yet Pep Guardiola said his league leaders are still some way from operating at maximum efficiency.

“We are not fully fit yet, we are not far away but we still need more time to regenerate,” the City manager said. “We didn’t do a pre-season, then we played the Community Shield. We tried to send a lot of messages about strength and tactics this week because we are not in the best condition. Players are complaining about muscular problems – that’s why Claudio [Bravo] is out and Kevin [De Bruyne] before. Fernandinho had big problems after the last game. Hopefully after the international break we’ll be better.”

With De Bruyne out for three months with a knee injury Guardiola lost his No 2 goalkeeper for a similar period when Bravo ruptured an achilles tendon in training, forcing the club to recall the 19-year-old Aro Muric from loan at NAC Breda. Guardiola confirmed he would have brought in a new goalkeeper had the rules allowed it but fell foul of Bravo becoming injured after the close of the transfer window. “Rules are rules, so we accepted we would be unable to sign a new goalkeeper,” he said. “But perhaps the association should think about this situation. Goalkeeping is a specialist position – you don’t normally carry too many spares.”

Guardiola suggested De Bruyne’s injury was because of post-World Cup fatigue, though explained Bravo, who was not involved in Russia, just suffered a freak accident. “We were playing a practice match the day after the Huddersfield game,” he said. “Claudio did not have a shot to save in the first 15 or 20 minutes, then as he rolled the ball out from his area he felt his ankle snap. It’s just bad luck, sometimes these things happen, but now we have our options in place I am happy enough.”

David Silva has admitted it may be difficult to replicate the almost perfect standards set last season. “I think something like that might only happen once in a lifetime but we have to try,” the midfielder said. “Trying to win consecutive titles is our next challenge but the other teams have strengthened so it might be more difficult. Last season there were moments when we played the ideal game: lots of goals, high percentage of ball possession, few chances conceded. I think that is very unusual in football nowadays.”