Soccer
Pep Guardiola satisfied after Manchester City win over 'tough' Burnley
A pair of first-half goals were all that Manchester City needed to secure a 2-0 win at Burnley on Wednesday, but Pep Guardiola says the match was more challenging than it appeared.
Gabriel Jesus struck in the third minute, and Raheem Sterling found the back of the net in the 38th as the Sky Blues maintained their three-point lead atop the Premier League standings, with the manager later singling out Jesus' contribution for praise.
"There are no doubts about Gabriel," Guardiola said after Wednesday's match. "We are delighted with Gabriel all the time. We have been together for a long time. The strikers need to score goals. Last game, he gave us three points [by scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Sheffield United], and today he gave us the start.
"Of course, we need his goals. He knows that, but his contribution in many ways is fantastic."
As happy as Guardiola is with Jesus' recent play, the City boss felt that Wednesday's match was more challenging than it could've been for his players.
"We were lucky to score early, and after the first half, we struggled a bit to break the lines," Guardiola said. "The second half was much better. Everyone knows how tough Burnley is away. In general, we are satisfied."
Things get much tougher for the Sky Blues as a meeting with Liverpool looms on Sunday. Guardiola says his team will savour Wednesday's victory before focusing on the Liverpool challenge.
"Right now, we enjoy this game, and tomorrow we start to think about the next game," the manager said. "It is the same points, but against a contender. At the end, the aim is to be champion. Against teams lower in the table, people can say it's guaranteed, but we know how difficult it is. We had to do our best, and now we face a different team with a different type of play. Now come another tough, tough group of games.
"Today we enjoy the game, have good food, and tomorrow we start to think about Liverpool."
