Pep Guardiola insists his Manchester City players can cope with the pressure of a tight Premier League title fight after a tense 1-0 win at Burnley.
Guardiola: Man City Can Handle Title Race Pressure After Nervy Burnley Win
The victory at Turf Moor on Wednesday lifted City to the top of the table on goal difference ahead of Arsenal. The result also officially relegated Burnley back to the Championship.
Guardiola admitted there were nervous moments especially when Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka came up for a stoppage-time corner. But his side held on.
“I don’t have a machine or something like that,” Guardiola said. “How was your pressure today? Were you nervous or not nervous?
“I’m pretty sure this will be good for the future of this club. The more you experience these situations, the better you handle them.”
Erling Haaland put City ahead after just five minutes. But Guardiola’s team wasted several chances afterward, firing 28 shots and generating an expected goals (xG) of 3.5 while scoring only once.
“We played really, really well,” Guardiola said.
“We created many chances. In most games like this, we score the second or third. We deserved more goals.”
Arsenal can reclaim the lead when they face Newcastle this weekend. City, meanwhile, turn their attention to an FA Cup semifinal against Southampton.
The loss ends Burnley’s one-season stay in the top flight. They now sit 13 points adrift of 17th-placed West Ham with only four games left.
Manager Scott Parker defended his players despite the inevitable drop.
“We’ve fallen short,” Parker told Sky Sports.
“I cannot criticise this team. They gave everything. We needed to overachieve in every game, and we haven’t managed that.”
Parker refused to confirm whether he will stay to lead Burnley’s promotion bid next season.
“We’ll reflect on this season and work out the way forward,” he said.
