Pep Guardiola urged his Manchester City players to remain “calm” after a 2-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford saw his side take a decisive step towards defending the Premier League trophy.
Second-half goals from Bernardo Silva and Leroy Sane saw City ultimately stroll to victory at Old Trafford and clear the greatest remaining hurdle in the title race home straight.
City travel to Burnley on Sunday, before taking on Leicester and Brighton, knowing that victory in all three games will ensure them of glory.
Speaking after the game, Guardiola said: “I understand the pressure we have and obviously here at Old Trafford with Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard running behind. I told them we needed to play to win, it doesn’t matter if we concede.
“Now we go to Burnley and we know how tough it will be. It’s important to be calm. We are still not champions with three games left – it’s incredible with the points we have and Liverpool have.
“I told the players don’t read tomorrow, don’t watch the television, just rest and sleep a lot and go in there against Burnley.
“We knew without Romelu Lukaku they would try more run in behind. The chances we lost came from us losing simple balls in the middle and we changed things in the second half, with Ilkay Gundogan in the middle and with Leroy Sane on we were more dynamic.
“Both teams deserve the title. But it can be just one. The team that is going to lose can’t have regrets because they have given everything. Normally with this kind of victory you can it enjoy it the most but we have to be calm.”
