Believe it or not, people actually doubted Pep Guardiola's credentials when he joined the Premier League after spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but the past eight months has well and truly silenced those sceptics.
It has been a breathtaking season at Manchester City and Pep has been key behind universal changes at the club.
The likes of Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Pablo Zabaleta were exchanged for younger, more exciting talent in the shape of Benjamin Mendy, Danilo and Aymeric Laporte.
While his tactics and methods began to really shine on the pitch, as Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne flourished under his wing.
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It has been a season like no other for the blue side of Manchester and in a recent interview, he has explained the formula behind his winning philosophy. It might just be the best video you'll watch this week.
Manchester City's official Twitter uploaded the following clip:
"The only way i know is, knowing when they are resting they are preparing better, to beat us. So we have to prepare more. Training more and preparing better is the only way I know, to keep that level. You train not for 11 players. You train for the whole squad." Guardiola said in the interview.
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"The idea of what we are going to do is so important. You have to give passes and passes, an extra pass helps you always be together. We run to to regain the ball. Not run to run. No pressing just to press. We believe, if we regain the ball high, we are close to scoring a goal.
"Without the ball, everybody runs. with the ball we try to play. We let them run, to try in the right moment to attack. Taking the decision in the right moment. That is the most difficult thing in football. What I want is to not lose the ball. Play simple. Do the simple things."
"The rest? It's because we are good."
It has been a remarkable season in which the club have lost just two Premier League games in 33 and Guardiola's need just three victories from five to register the most away wins in a single PL season.
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But that's not the only Chelsea record City are out to break. In Jose Mourinho's debut campaign in 2004/05, the Stamford Bridge club managed 15 away wins. Wins over West Ham and Southampton will mean City finish on 16.
Then there's the all-important record points tally of 95 which Mourinho garnered 13 years ago. City are on 87 as it stands and 9 points will do the business. Getting to 100 points would also be a hugely special achievement to go with the two trophies won this term.
The final noteworthy record is the highest amount of points a league title has been won by. If the gap at the top is extended to 19 or more in the remaining games, City will edge out United's effort of 18 in the 1999/2000 season.
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Will this Manchester City side go down in history as one of the very best to have graced the Premier League?
Let us know in the comments below.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Manchester City, Football News, Football, Pep Guardiola
