Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised the tenacity of his players after coming through a congested fixture schedule.
The Sky Blues recorded a 2-1 victory away at Burnley last weekend with Sergio Aguero netting both goals for Guardiola’s side, and the win extends City’s unbeaten record to six matches.
As well as that game, they navigated a difficult tie away in Germany in the Champions League in midweek as they held Borussia Monchengladbach to a 1-1 draw.
A major problem for the blues, something title rivals Liverpool and Chelsea do not have to contend with, has been managing their domestic matches and their European encounters, but the fact that City are still within one point of the top of the Premier League table pleases Guardiola.
He said: “I’m not a guy who complains so much, believe me. It’s happened… what can I do? Call the federation? No. They are going to change? No.
“They put 12:30 so we have to be here, play at 12:30 and if you lose congratulations to Burnley and keep going.”
City now with breathing space
The blues now have a full week to recover for their next match, as in form Chelsea visit the Etihad stadium for the early kick-off on Saturday.
Guardiola continued: “That’s why I’m so satisfied. We’ll have played eight more games in the Champions League than Chelsea and Liverpool and we are here.
“Playing seven, eight more games in the Champions League after going to Stoke and to West Brom, and to still be with Liverpool and Chelsea when they don’t play in Europe is good for us.”
The fixture list doesn’t get any easier for Guardiola as following the clash with Antonio Conte’s men this weekend, they then face Celtic in their final Champions League group match, before entering the gruelling Christmas fixtures which will be new to Guardiola as he continues his first season in England.