Pep Guardiola outlined how defensive solidity has helped Manchester City bounce back this season after a poor start.
The Cityzens beat Fulham 2-0 on Saturday to go four games on the bounce with a clean sheet in each.
Guardiola swiped and changed his back-four quite a few times to see what works and so far, it all has. Players like Benjamin Mendy, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker has come into form.
“It is important – a lot,” he said, after the weekend win. “In the last game, Eric Garcia and Ruben Dias were brilliant.
“It’s so important they don’t make mistakes. In the games against Leicester, Liverpool and Tottenham we made mistakes we could have avoided. Central defenders cannot do that.
“In the last few games, we have been so solid. If the other team makes a good action, fine. They play too… but we cannot give it to them. [On Saturday[, Benjamin Mendy, Joao Cancelo… all the back four didn’t make obvious mistakes and this is the step to be solid as a team.
“We can make lot of effort and energy to try to play and be positive in football and opponents sometimes wait for one mistake to punish us. We have to avoid it. If they want to beat us, they have to do something. We cannot give it to them. In the last few games, we were much better in this department.
“We are in a good moment right now – four games, four clean sheets and a lot of chances created – but we can be better. We are better than one month ago but that is normal without preparation and time.
“We are not far away from the top of the league and we have already qualified for the next round in the Champions League. This is important. Now, we will try and continue being there.”
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