Heading into half-time, many were wondering if this was another occasion where City would drop vital points.
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Guardiola, however, was not overly disappointed with the performance.
“We will accept”, he said.
But giving these type of interviews will only turn you against the media which makes life a lot more hard. I’ve been here just six months and the way we want to play in the league is not that simple.
“We have to keep doing what we are doing and not look at Chelsea”, he said. Burnley matched City for shots on target and corners and had City come up against one of their fellow title challengers they could have well found themselves on the end of a defeat.
Guardiola was asked about this at his post-match press conference but, after giving a series of terse interviews following the fractious victory, elaborated little. Club captain Vincent Kompany (knee) and Fabian Delph (groin) are closer to a return in January, although this game comes too soon for the duo. Jon Flanagan will be assessed ahead of the game.
Yaya Toure has opened up on Pep Guardiola’s reaction to the New Year’s Eve loss to Liverpool after the result saw Manchester City slip outside of the top four. The gap is huge because they deserve to be there. “The manager told us beforehand in the team meeting that we have to show our quality and show them [City] how good you are”.
City began the game well, dominating possession and finding some spaces on Burnley’s well organized defense. I will not be on the bench when I am 60 or 65 years old, of that I am sure. We won a hard game.
“We wanted to win the game”.
Guardiola seemed particularly irritated by Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho’s sending off during the match – his third red card already this season. Of course, he was angry and he is a manager who can be angry.
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“Until now Kevin has played incredible, the last game in Hull [City] for example, and I don’t think it was that he is exhausted”, Guardiola added. Can we do it at Man City? There’s limited danger for the Citizens on this Burnley attack and Fernandinho appeared to have plenty of time to make a decision on how to challenge for the ball. It’s also a different kind of challenge. We wanted to win.
