Despite being hampered by stalwart star striker Sergio Aguero’s prolonged absence with a smorgasbord of injuries, besides also having to wrestle with a debilitating coronavirus outbreak among his squad, Pep Guardiola has again shown his proven, steely resolve to wrangle his team out of trouble and somehow steered Manchester City back into the title race.
The Cityzens’ 1-0 win against Brighton on Wednesday extended their unbeaten run to 14 games in all competitions, leaving them only four points behind United with a game in hand. A clear sign that Pep and his predators are again on the prowl.
With a vigilant City will hosting Crystal Palace on Sunday and having to take on Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United and Burnley in their next league games, Guardiola’s men are all poised to make their move.
The only blip has been City’s lack of goals this season, having scored fewer than any other team in the top nine, which could seriously impact their title hopes. Fortunately for them, the shot in the arm has been Guardiola’s oft-maligned defence coming to the rescue in their times of need.
The timely arrival of Ruben Dias from Benfica and recent revival of John Stones have greatly fortified City’s backline as they now boast the league’s best defensive record compared with their frequently-criticised back four last season.