Pep: No team will ever match City’s success

PEP GUARDIOLA admitted he is ‘overwhelmed’ by Manchester City’s response to recent adversity and claimed no team will eclipse their league consistency over the last two seasons. City are now two wins from becoming the first team in a decade to retain the Premier League title after yesterday’s battling 1-0 win at Burnley. Guardiola has been left astounded by the character of his team after the demoralising away-goals Champions League defeat by Tottenham. Sergio Aguero, reduced to tears in the dressing room that night, was the match-winner at Turf Moor. ‘Our reaction to Tottenham has been outstanding, overwhelming,’ Guardiola said. ‘How they mentally deal with it, how they react without Kevin de Bruyne, Fernandinho and important players, then come here and play the way we play. ‘Let’s keep going. Just two games. It’s tough for Liverpool and it’s tough for us, with 92 points and still not champions. ‘We have 192 points over two seasons. Maybe one team in history will make 100 points in a season but then to make 92 or 98 the next year, I bet that is not going to happen often. ‘We have more than 20 points more than United and Arsenal. It is incredible. I couldn’t expect that earlier in the season, especially in the winter. We have won 12 games in a row, 19 of the last 20. It’s massive, incredible.’ Goal-line technology was needed to award Aguero’s strike, which made him only the second player to hit 20 Premier League goals in five straight seasons. He matches the mark set by Arsenal’s Thierry Henry from 2001-02 to 2005-06, and Guardiola labelled the Argentine ‘a legend’ for his achievements. Meanwhile, Burnley boss Sean Dyche believes he can take great heart from the manner of City’s victory, with the champions finishing with six defenders on the pitch. ‘I heard Pep screaming, “Get it in the corner”,’ Dyche said. ‘It’s a compliment. It was refreshing to hear a top manager scream that to his players. It is sign of him wanting to win. ‘There were a few moments in the second half where you saw the game slowing down. I’ve got no problem with it. They’re a top side but they still have to do the details.’