Pep Guardiola has said Manchester City must ‘win at any cost’ across the run-in as his team chase the Premier League title.
City moved to the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Burnley on Wednesday, courtesy of Erling Haaland’s early goal at Turf Moor.
Guardiola’s side have climbed to top spot for the first time since the Premier League’s opening weekend, having overhauled Arsenal in recent weeks, thanks to an 11-game unbeaten league run.
The win at Burnley was hard-fought, but Guardiola has insisted the result is all that matters. City lead the title race on goals scored, ahead of what promises to be a dramatic title run-in.
“Winning is the main target,” Guardiola said at full-time.
“Considering the last three days and the emotion and physicality in the game we played, we made an extraordinary game. The chances we created, we could score more goals but the important thing is winning every game.
“Five games in the Premier League for both teams and we see what happens. We had chances. We have to win the games, but it was clear, clear, clear. We were not ‘umph’ in the last part of the shots.
“Sometimes it’s the fatigue. I had the feeling if we score at 2-0 it will be more relaxed and we could be more composed in the final third is not easy as they defend with a lot of players.
“In terms of what I asked of the team and their focus they have been extraordinary. We played really, really good.
“I completely agree that winning is all that matters, but not just in April, in September and October and November. We have to win at any cost, yeah, but we have to do something.
“Run and jump and pass and shoot. That is what we work on day by day. Even today we didn’t think about the consequences and what will happen if we are top of the league or not. Know what you have to do to beat Burnley [and we did that].”
Read – Full Chelsea statement after Liam Rosenior sacked
See more – Remembering the night that Kaka tore Manchester United apart