Pep Guardiola hails 'smart' Man City after Burnley victory

Pep Guardiola was thrilled with the way Manchester City controlled their game during their victory at Burnley.

City dominated possession and territory, stopping their hosts from having a single shot on target, and Guardiola called it a ‘smart’ display.

The victory puts them back to the top of the Premier League with two games to go, and they’re just two wins away from becoming the first side to retain the title in ten years.

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AS IT HAPPENED: Burnley 0-1 Man City

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“We didn’t concede one shot on target or one corner, we are a small team but we are smart, in the first half the pitch was so dry and it was slow but in the second half we knew we had to score our goal,” Guardiola said.

“We controlled the long ball and we had chances to score the second goal – in the last minutes anything can happen, always it is diffcult if you cannot close the game.

“We knew we just need to go forward, don’t make fouls and concede as little as possible the fouls and corners. We had a penalty not given – which I think is a penalty. In the first half we didn’t create too much but of course it is what it is.”

“It’s so important, we controlled very well Barnes and Wood, we conceded two or three free-kicks and we controlled our position, the pitch was so dry and difficult to move the ball about, and three more points with two games left – an important victory yes.”

Sergio Aguero was the match-winner at Turf Moor, with Matt Lowton unable to keep his effort out on the line. It was only given after intervention from the goal-line technology.

“I think it was over the line!” he said. “I am very happy with the goal because the first half we had chances. I was happy for the technology.

“When I scored I enjoyed the moment with my team-mates.”