COUNTDOWN TO GLORY
It’s 20 wins in a row as City close in on world record. They will lift the title... the only conundrum is when
The countdown has begun. Pep Guardiola’s third Premier League title as Manchester City manager is within his grasp. he rattled off the challenges to come with glee, starting with Wolves here tomorrow. Sunday’s Manchester derby is not exactly far from his thoughts, either.
Twelve games to go now and the next three are all at home. For a team that had played eight of their last ten matches in all competitions away from the etihad Stadium before this victory over a resilient West ham, it represents some form of relief.
‘They are terribly important,’ said Guardiola. ‘And I’m terribly happy! These three games may be a huge, huge part of our Premier League season. The players know we are not champions, there are still 36 points to play for. With what we have in our legs and minds, these three games will be so difficult, like today was, because we are not fresh.’
he is right, City are not fresh — even with seven changes from the midweek win in europe. They certainly did not appear fresh up against the screening Declan Rice, imperious at the base of West ham’s midfield. Or tracking the intelligent running of Michail Antonio, fighting the belligerent Vladimir Coufal.
Nor should they be. But they still won and that is what has set City aside from the rest in a season like no other. They deserve their two days off to spend with family after Wolves.
Guardiola’s team are not pummelling everybody in sight, their consistency at the top just as measured as the climb to get there after Christmas. They have paced themselves perfectly. There is more game-management than in previous years and that is to their credit.
To be honest, they are not always playing particularly well and there was more than a tinge of regret in the voice of David Moyes that West ham had not left for London with something; at least a point looked eminently achievable for much of the afternoon.
City paid them the ultimate compliment by enlisting the height of Rodri in the final minutes to close the game out. John Stones and Ruben Dias — the home goalscorers either side of Antonio’s equaliser — both completed crucial headers late on to thwart danger. Unlike the stroll over Borussia Monchengladbach, City did not have sole ownership of the joystick.
They do have history in their own hands, though, and while Guardiola’s public mantra has always been ‘next game, next game’, he is clearly allowing himself to wonder how long this winning run can stretch. he did not mention any world records but someone seems to be keeping him abreast of the scorecard, City’s now at 20.
‘It’s the third best run in the whole history in europe,’ said Guardiola. ‘We are going to equalise with Madrid in the next one.’
That is not strictly true, Real Madrid winning 22 under Carlo Ancelotti seven years ago, but it can be equalled by beating Wolves and Manchester United over the coming days. Regardless, that they are in this situation is phenomenal.
Fourteen of the victories have come in the league, six in cup competitions. The Catalan puts that down to not only the deep strength within this squad — highlighted by the £350million worth of talent on the bench — but the individual rivalries for places across the team.
‘In the last two games, Kyle (Walker) was incredibly focused with and without the ball. Joao (Cancelo) helps Kyle to know he has to play good,’ added Guardiola.