SM
Liverpool vs. Real Madrid: 10 hrs 19 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
MC
Premier League | Gameweek 26
Feb 27, 2021 at 12.30pm UK
Etihad Stadium
WH

Man City
2 - 1
West Ham

Dias (30'), Stones (68')
Fernandinho (90+3')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Antonio (43')
Johnson (28')

Pep Guardiola: 'Man City's winning run could be my greatest achievement'

:Headline: Pep Guardiola: 'Man City's winning run could be my greatest achievement': ID:437060: from db_amp
The Premier League leaders made it 20 victories in a row in all competitions with a 2-1 triumph over West Ham.

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City's 20-game winning run could be the greatest achievement of his career.

The Premier League leaders maintained their charge as they ground out a hard-fought 2-1 victory over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Guardiola has won 29 trophies in his glittering managerial career with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City, including back-to-back Premier League titles in 2018 and 2019, but this season's results – amid a pandemic – could eclipse that.

City 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 City boss said: "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.

"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 were not at their fluid best and were made to dig deep for their latest victory by the hard-working Hammers.

Goals in each half from defenders Ruben Dias and John Stones, either side of a Michail Antonio equaliser, ultimately proved the key contributions.

Ruben Dias opened the scoring for City (Gareth Copley/PA)

Guardiola said: "We didn't paint something nice but there are many of these games during the season.

"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."

West Ham, who had been fourth going into the game, almost snatched a late point when Issa Diop headed wide.

Manager David Moyes hailed the performance although he was not prepared to make any promises about Champions League football, and even tried to play down rising expectations.

He said: "We came to the best team in the country, probably the best team in Europe, and we gave them a really good game. We were always in the game.

"You need to take the moments and we just didn't take the moment at the end, but if we play like that until the end of the season, we will give ourselves a great chance of being up there.

David Moyes, second left, congratulates Manchester City's players at full-time (Gareth Copley/PA)

"If we continue to improve, the players will give themselves a good chance of finishing in the top half.

"I am really disappointed we didn't get a point, it was a terrific performance."

The Hammers could have a goalkeeping problem. First choice Lukasz Fabianski missed the game through injury and his replacement Darren Randolph began to struggle as the game went on.

Moyes said: "Darren Randolph has only just come back. He had a bit of a thigh injury and he was only back in training a week or two, and he just felt it again.

"Lukasz picked up a minor injury in training when one of the players accidentally stepped on his arm."

amp_article__437060 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2021-02-27 16:45:23:
html db last update - 2021-02-27 16:45:23 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Read more!

Click here for more stories about Pep Guardiola

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .