Guardiola hails Man City winning streak as his greatest achievement
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said overseeing the team’s 20-game winning run in all competitions may be one of the greatest achievements of his glittering career.
Goals from Ruben Dias and John Stones fired City to a 2-1 win over West Ham United on Saturday to keep them comfortably at the top of the Premier League table.
City racked up a record 100 points in their title-winning campaign in 2017/2018 and won all four domestic trophies the following season, but Guardiola believes their current win streak in a season affected by the Covid-19 pandemic ranks as one of his finest moments.
“In this period, in this era, with this situation, to be able to do 20, maybe it is one of greatest achievements we have done together in our careers,” Guardiola said.
Guardiola said the packed schedule was taking its toll despite the manner in which he rotated his squad.
“Mentally it’s tough because we played many games every three days. People started to be tired.
“We must rest mentally and physically.
“If not, you cannot sustain it,” he said.
Guardiola rotated his side after their midweek trip to Budapest to face Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Champions League but there was no change to their winning habit.
Argentine striker Sergio Aguero made his first start in four months, one of seven changes from the team which won 2-0 on Wednesday, with Kevin De Bruyne also back in the first eleven.
It was no surprise that the Belgian midfielder had a crucial impact, creating the opener in the 30th minute with a curling cross from deep on the right which was firmly headed home by centre-half Dias.
But David Moyes’ Hammers, who have improved so impressively this season, drew level through Michail Antonio two minutes before the interval, the
forward tapping home at close range after Jesse Lingard had turned a Vladimir Coufal cross towards goal.
Guardiola’s side secured their 14th consecutive league win, however, when in the 68th minute Dias’ fellow defender Stones slotted home after being picked out by a Riyad Mahrez pullback.
Fourth-placed West Ham, who performed well throughout, had a late chance to grab a point, but Issa Diop failed to connect well with a header from a Jesse Lingard cross.
It was more workmanlike than some of the more fluent
City displays but Guardiola was content to collect three more points towards what looks set to be a third Premier League title in four years.
“After 10-15 minutes today we realised we were not going to paint anything beautiful. Second half we were much better.
“When you play a lot of games in the league and then the Champions League, this is normal.
“We were lucky to get all three points,” he said.
City host Wolverhampton Wanderers tomorrow.