Guardiola hails hard yards in record runs
WHILE some teams suffered a dry January, Manchester City had an unquenchable thirst for victories.
The Premier League leaders signed off for the month with nine wins from nine in all competitions, the most victories by a team in a single month since the Football League’s formation in 1888.
The record, which shows no sign of ending, is testament to City’s formidable return to form and is why they are overwhelming title favourites.
On Wednesday, City visit Burnley, who, prior to yesterday’s defeat by Chelsea, had won back-toback league games, including a famous victory at Liverpool.
City had to work hard for this win over the Blades, and will need the same collective desire at Turf Moor to continue the run.Those are the qualities that most pleased Guardiola about his side’s eight-game winning streak in the league, 12 in a row in all competitions – a club record. “Always we had it,” said Guardiola, below, after notching up his 500th win as a manager. “You cannot play for Manchester City if you don’t have this behaviour without the ball.
“You have to run a lot to recover the ball with your mates, to have the ball and after pass, pass and play and play.”
Guardiola paid tribute to his men for their sustained spell of form under tough conditions. He said: “Everyone is at home in lockdown, we cannot express ourselves, go out to restaurants.To achieve this is quite remarkable, more than any other period from our lives.”
City won courtesy of a ninth-minute goal from Gabriel Jesus. Thereafter, just as they did in their win at Old Trafford three days earlier, the visitors dug in and made it tough for their opponents, but were unable to score this time.