Premier League week 9: Manchester City 3-0 Burnley, Huddersfield 2-1 Manchester United
Man City move five points clear in the table after Man Utd’s surprising loss to the newly promoted club. After a great start of the season, the Red Devils struggle to keep up the pace with the Citizens and now have to look behind with Tottenham threatening the second spot. The season is still ways ahead but this is a kind of result that could have major significance when it comes to win the title.
As far as City, the sun is shining and the club only dropped two points in the first 9 games of the 2017-18 season while winning all games in the Champions League too. Clearly Guardiola’s team which has made major moves over the summer seems armed to win the Premier League and make a run for the Champions League too. We transcript what both coaches had to say following Saturday’s matches:
City coach Pep Guardiola:
“Burnley have won in amazing stages this season. Their physicality is amazing. They are a group with a huge work ethic. If people come here thinking in 20 minutes, we will be winning 5-0, that is not going to happen. After [playing in] the Champions League [in midweek], it is so demanding. Champions League games are demanding mentally and physically. We created enough chances and defended their actions really well.We didn’t concede chances.
Last season at 1-0, maybe we would have been more nervous with less control. At this moment, we don’t have that feeling but the players know we can lose. Every single minute in every game, we have to do what we have to do. Our confidence will increase and we can continue winning games.
In the second half, we played so well in terms of control. We were stable, we created more chances and we scored in the right time. We are where we need to be. It’s three more points and we are happy. We have won 11 games in a row. It means we have been able to win lots of games. We are top of the Premier League and our Champions League group but last year, we won ten games in a row and we did not win titles. We must keep the rhythm, keep focused and continue to play our game.”
United coach Jose Mourinho:
“The conditions are the same for everyone, for them and for us. The only thing that is different is that we played a game two days ago, they didn’t. But we already knew for a long, long time that is a difference in quality – one plays in the Champions League, the other doesn’t. So, the difference in quality is compensated by the fact that one team plays more than the other. That’s football.
I don’t like to anticipate the reactions because I don’t know what to say in this moment. We came here to play in the Premier League, to play for three points, so I feel really disappointed. If I was a Manchester United supporter, not the manager, but a traditional supporter, I’d be really disappointed because I think you can play and lose matches because your opponent has more quality. You cannot lose because the opponent has a better attitude than you so I’m disappointed. I don’t even remember a friendly match when our attitude was so poor. They tried in the second half in difficult circumstances – the wind was tremendous. In the second half, we probably could have got a second goal but it would have been an undeserved goal and undeserved draw.”
