John Stones insists the Manchester City squad aren't getting ahead of themselves even though they further increased their chances of winning the Premier League by defeating Chelsea on Saturday.
The clash was billed as the last hope of stopping City in their march to a fourth title in five years beforehand, with many predicting that Chelsea would need to win to keep the race alive.
However, it was the Blues who were deservedly victorious in an edgy game to make it 12 wins on the bounce and stretch their lead at the top to 13 points.
Liverpool shortened the gap to 11 with their 3-0 win over Brentford on Sunday and still have a game in hand but many have taken to crowning City as champions already.
While plenty have already labelled the season as a foregone conclusion, Stones insist that isn't the case within the squad and that Pep Guardiola is keeping everyone on their toes.
“The manager is the type to always say stuff and keep us on our toes and that is why he is always demanding more and the best from us," the centre-back said when asked about the mood in the dressing room.
"As players we know what position we are in and I think we2 have such a humble squad, knowing that we cannot get ahead of ourselves or stop doing the basics right.
"In these games it is so vital to have that humility when we are playing against big teams, to show them respect, but go and show them what we can do and what we do week in week out.
"I think that is why we have been so successful over the years in so many competitions because we have that drive and humbleness to show our opponents that respect.
"But in the back of our minds the manager is always demanding it and we have to go out there and prove ourselves week in week out. Over this Christmas period we have shown that and it is the sign of a great team.”
Kevin De Bruyne was the difference in a tense match as he picked the ball up with 20 minutes remaining and evaded N'golo Kante's desperate tackle before bending an excellent shot into the bottom corner.
Stones was full of praise for the brilliant Belgian as well as the team's defensive display.
“We worked all week on our shape and how we shift across as a back four. We know the threat they have got with Lukaku and the other players that run in behind.
"We worked on that and in these games I think a lot of it comes down to your concentration and being in the right areas on the ball in every opportunity.
"Those are the fine margins in this game when you’ve got such a strike force against you.
It is a game of chess at times and down in Stamford Bridge when we played them earlier this season it was similar. We had to keep grinding away, not get too disheartened if things weren’t going our way, keep probing and moving the ball quickly like we did today.
"And when Kevin goes and pops one in for us it makes things a lot better.
“He has popped up with so many great goals and that is the ability that Kev has got. It is incredible to play with him and have him in our team and it is great for him to get on the scoresheet as well.”
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