Dias, Stones score in Man City’s record extending win as Pep’s men go 13 points clear at top of the table
Pep Guardiola rates Manchester City’s 20-game winning run as one of the greatest achievements of his glittering career.
City moved 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in 27 games and their run of 20 successive victories in all competitions is a record for an English top-flight side.
The Spaniard has won 29 trophies as a manager with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City, including consecutive Premier League titles in 2018 and 2019.
But Guardiola believes City’s remarkable winning streak this season, amid a pandemic and despite injuries to Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne, is up there with his finest moments.
“It is so difficult. Twenty in this period, in this era, with this situation around the world. To be able to do 20 is maybe one of the greatest achievements we have done together in our careers,” Guardiola said.
“That doesn’t mean we will win titles but we have not had one week’s rest in three months. A game every three days, with the Covid situation, injury situations — to make this winning run shows mental strength.”
City weren’t at their best against in-form West Ham, but Guardiola was delighted with the way they fought for the points.
“We didn’t paint something nice but there are many of these games during the season,” he said.
“It was obvious to every person who saw the game it was really tough. The opposition is incredible, well composed.
“So, a big compliment to West Ham. After 26 fixtures they were in the Champions League positions. They have everything.
“It was a really tough game but that is good for us for the coming games, to realise what is going to happen.”
Stones fires
Pep Guardiola’s side are closing in on their third Premier League title in four seasons thanks to priceless contributions from their in-form centre-backs.
Ruben Dias, imperious since signing from Benfica in September, put City ahead with his first goal for the club.
Michail Antonio equalised for West Ham just before half-time, but the revitalised Stones bagged the winner with a fine strike after the break.
City are enjoying the longest ever winning streak by an English top-flight team, with 14 of those 20 victories coming in the league to leave their title rivals trailing in their wake.
“It was really difficult. After 10-15 minutes today we realise we are not going to paint anything beautiful,” Guardiola said.
“Second half we were much better than the first half. 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. The mathematics matter at the end of the season.”
Second placed Manchester United and third placed Leicester can close the gap back to 10 points if they beat Chelsea and Arsenal respectively on Sunday.
But it is hard to imagine anyone catching City over the last 12 games of the season. They survived a stern test from fourth placed West Ham and ominously for the rest of the league, Sergio Aguero returned to the City starting line-up for the first time in four months.
Once he gets his sharpness back, City’s record goalscorer will provide a boost to their bid to win an unprecedented quadruple. West Ham had won seven of their previous nine league games, but even they couldn’t halt City’s relentless march to the title.
Bha miss two from spot
Elsewhere, West Brom kept their hopes of avoiding the drop alive with just a second win in 13 games under Sam Allardyce in a game overshadowed by a surreal moment of refereeing by Lee Mason that cost Brighton an equaliser. Kyle Bartley’s early header was enough for West Brom to seal the tie.
