Pep Guardiola says his Manchester City team is growing after producing ‘one of the best performances of the season’ in a 3-0 win over Fulham on Wednesday.
After the dramatic victory at Liverpool on Sunday, City kept up their momentum with a dominant victory at home over the Cottagers.
Antoine Semenyo continued his impressive form since signing in January by scoring the opening goal, with Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland also finding the back of the net before half-time.
The victory puts Guardiola’s side within three points of league-leaders Arsenal, although the Gunners have a game in hand which they will play at Brentford on Thursday night.
Guardiola was keen to point that out after the win, but did warn his title rivals that his team is getting better as we reach the business end of the season.
‘We were not nine points [adrift] before Anfield, we are not three points [adrift] before Brentford v Arsenal, after that we will see,’ said the Man City boss.
‘I always say the focus is to grow, grow, grow. It’s how we can be more consistent over 90 minutes, how we can be better and the players feel that [they are] doing what we want to do.
‘We can do it in terms of mentality and patterns defensively and offensively. We are doing that.’
After the emotional and taxing win at Anfield just a few days ago, Guardiola felt his team produced one of their best displays all campaign to see off Marco Silva’s side.
‘Really good performance, one of the best this season,’ he said. ‘After Anfield, in our experience when there’s important emotional names like Anfield or the Champions League it’s always tricky.’
The Catalan added: ‘We were together, more calm with the ball, we made inside, outside [runs]. I would say the position was not perfect for Nico O’Reilly and Phil [Foden] but sometimes it happens to be in better positions, but in general really pleased.
‘We suffered a lot at Fulham and today, after physically and emotionally at Anfield, it is really tricky but we talked a lot and I said ‘guys we have to do it again’ and we did it.’
There was one concern for Manchester City as Haaland was taken off at half-time, replaced by Omar Marmoush.
Guardiola did not give much away on the issue, but suggested it was not serious and it was easy to replace the Norwegian with his side already three goals to the good.
‘It was a problem, a niggle, that’s why,’ he said of the substitution.
‘Niggle, he felt something uncomfortable. There’s so many games. I haven’t spoken to the doctors so I don’t know exactly what it is. I don’t know.
‘He said he didn’t feel comfortable so I took him out, it was common sense.’
Haaland will surely be given the weekend off against Salford in the FA Cup, returning to Premier League action on February 21 against Newcastle.
The Norwegian, and the rest of the Manchester City set-up, will be watching with interest on Thursday night as Arsenal travel across London to take on Brentford.
Mikel Arteta’s men are favourites to win, but the Bees are coming off back-to-back victories over Aston Villa and Newcastle as their impressive season continues, sitting seventh in the table.