PEP REVELS IN RECORDBREAKING CITY WIN
Pep Guardiola called Manchester City’s record of 15 consecutive Premier League wins “amazing” but wants his side to make it count.
City broke the 14-game winning streak set by Arsenal in 2002 with a comprehensive 4-0 victory away to struggling Swansea.
David Silva continued his recent fine scoring streak with a double, with Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero also on target.
“The record means a lot - to get 15 victories in a row is amazing,” City manager Guardiola said.
“Records are there to be broken but at this level today it is so competitive - the managers, the players, the analysts - and that means we are strong in the head.
“Normally you can decrease a little bit your concentration, but when you can do it 15 times in a row it means that every single day you are there.
“Of course I am proud of the record but it does not mean anything if we don’t win the title.
“We spoke about that in the locker room and we said to have a good recovery everyone because in three days we have another game against Tottenham.”
After the controversy of their weekend derby victory over second-placed Manchester United, there was an irony to Guardiola’s postmatch press conference at the Liberty Stadium.
United manager Jose Mourinho had complained of the loud music being played in City’s dressing room, leading to reports of ugly scenes in the corridor and a Football Association investigation into the postmatch events at Old Trafford.
Three days on from that and music could be heard coming from the adjacent City dressing room as Guardiola spoke to reporters, telling them it was: “No problem.
“We are so happy, we played really good - especially after the Old Trafford game.
“When Swansea defended deep we found the patience and the right moment when they pressed.
“We go to the ball like animals, in a good way, and we understood better the patience to attack in the right moment.
“They are hungry still and they want to win. That is the good thing.”
Swansea’s defeat was their joint-heaviest of the season and they remain bottom of the Premier League with 12 points from 17 games.
Head coach Paul Clement said: “We started OK, we were in it, but the first goal is really disappointing.
“It was almost a carbon copy of what happened against Brighton - easy cross, centre-half has almost ducked out of it and the goalkeeper rooted to his line
“Our reaction was that we were very passive, showing too much respect, not aggressive enough.
“But games like that aren’t and won’t define our season.
“It’s other games which will do that, and I include Everton away next in that, and absolutely Crystal Palace at home on December 23. That’s really what we’ve got to focus on now.”