After snatching a dramatic victory on a freezing cold night in Yorkshire, Pep Guardiola was clearly ecstatic with the three points as Manchester City demonstrated they can dig deep when they have to.
Winning from behind at half-time for the first time since a City side featured such stellar names as John Foster and Alan Kernaghan, the blues demonstrated the grit needed to win games that aren’t going your way.
The games are coming thick and fast as we approach the crucial Christmas period and rotation will be at the forefront of Pep’s thoughts as Southampton visit the Etihad on Wednesday evening.
Gabriel Jesus is likely to start in place of Sergio Aguero who has played 90 minutes for City in their last two outings (Feyenoord and Huddersfield). There could also be minutes for Danilo, Bernardo Silva and Eliaquim Mangala as Pep looks to the fringes of his squad to see him through two home games before the eagerly anticipated Manchester derby a week on Sunday. There may even be another chance to impress for youngsters Foden and Diaz.
He may also be thinking of Fernandinho, who being such a crucial player to City’s system is on four yellow cards meaning his next one brings a suspension. He won’t want to be without the selfless Brazilian for the derby.
City have slowed their free-scoring form of late but are still winning games and as long as that continues, Guardiola is unlikely to worry too much over score lines.
Pep will know that they are expected to win against Southampton and a home to West Ham on Sunday while closest challengers United have a tough trip to Vicarage Road before playing Arsenal. Mourinho will know that to have any chance of catching City, they need to get six points before they face off at Old Trafford.
Guardiola will also be well aware of that and will be mindful that there are no easy games – City will need to be ready for a Southampton side coming with little to lose, full of confidence after their demolition of the hapless Everton.
If City can beat Southampton and United play as poorly as they did against Brighton at the weekend then they will surely find themselves with and even more impressive lead at the top of the table. Ultimately it could be that come the derby, it is already too late for United.
