The seasoned campaigner that he is – not one given to unbridled, unrealistic optimism just because of sudden hot surges in the form under his charge – having guided the leading European teams to the pinnacles of achievement in their respective leagues and with almost every conceivable prestigious title under his belt, Pep Guardiola’s sobriety and prudence continue to caution restraint as he continues to play down Manchester City’s title chances despite not ignoring the remarkable turnaround and scintillating resurgence in form his boys have achieved in the recent months of the current campaign.
Guardiola is insistent even after Manchester City’s 12th consecutive win that his players need to focus intently on their next game and monitor their reaction to when they do concede points.
However, he who wields the rod relented sufficiently to tell his squad privately just how remarkable their recent run of form has been.
City are now enjoying the third-best winning run both under the multiple-award-winning manager and in their history.
The 1-0 victory over Sheffield United on Saturday is the result of their continued excellent form extending their lead at the top of the Premier League table while also seting a new record with the Blues becoming the first team in the top four divisions of English football to ever win nine games in a single calendar month.
From Bristol City in September 1954 through to Liverpool in January 2019, teams – including the Blues – have managed to win eight in a month on 11 occasions since 1888 before but nobody has ever managed nine.
Yet, despite not allowing his team to get overly buoyant with their form, even Guardiola himself has been taken aback by their exceptional run in view of the trying circumstances they have had to endure and surmount this season – notably a month of austerity that began with a depleted squad somehow prevailing against all odds with a win in the league at Stamford Bridge. This was then followed up with a cup semi-final win at Old Trafford, ending with Kevin De Bruyne joining Sergio Aguero on the sidelines – all of which have left the then beleaguered manager delighted with the manner in which his team have battled through their trials and yet managed to produce a consistent, winning streak.
“Not just January, from the middle of December we know how tough it is, everyone is at home in lockdown, we cannot express ourselves, go out to restaurants like everyone else in the world,” he said.
“To achieve this is quite remarkable, more than any other period from our lives, so that is why I didn’t expect it.
“I said to the players in the meeting, we’ve finished the first leg, congratulations, it’s remarkable what you’ve done all of you and now keep going. Now go home and rest, and [prepare for] Burnley.”
These are words of wisdom showing only one of the key qualities demarcating the difference between a proven world-class manager with a showcase laden with silverware and those conceitedly huffing and puffing hot air when their teams go through a flash in the pan hot streaks to surface ever so briefly at the top of the table while the end is still yet to be fully run.