LONDON (UK) – Overseeing Manchester City’s 20-game winning streak in all events may be one of the biggest achievements of his stellar career, said manager Pep Guardiola.
Goals netted by Ruben Dias and John Stones propelled City to a 2-1 win over West Ham United on Saturday and moved them 13 points clear of Manchester United.
City clinched a record 100 points in their title-winning run in 2017-18 and emerged victorious in all four domestic trophies the following season. But the manager believes their current winning streak in a season hit by the pandemic ranks as one of his finest moments.
“In this period, in this era, with this situation, to be able to do 20, maybe it is one of greatest achievements we have done together in our careers,” Guardiola said.
“That doesn’t mean a title win but this period in time, the toughest period in England, (to have) no one week of rest for three or four months, every three days a game, with the COVID, injury situations. To be on this kind of run – winning, winning, winning – means mental strength.”
He said the tight schedule was taking its toll despite the manner in which he rotates his squad.
“Mentally it’s tough because we play many games every three days. People start to be tired… We must rest mentally and physically. If not, you cannot sustain it,” he said.
City will play Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday.