Pep Guardiola: West Brom draw forced tactical tweak that sparked Manchester City’s winning run

Premier League leaders have won 21 straight games in an unbeaten run of 28 across all competitions

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola has said his Manchester City side were unrecognisable to him before they returned to their “ABC” principles and began their climb to the top of the Premier League.

City achieved a 4-1 home victory over Wolves on Tuesday evening, marking their 21st consecutive win. The result also saw Guardiola’s team extend their unbeaten run to 28 games across all competitions.

Their last loss came on 21 November against Tottenham, leaving City eight points off the top spot, but they are now 14 points clear at the summit of the Premier League.

READ MORE: Premier League table and fixtures – all games by date and kick-off time

Guardiola revealed it was after his side had been held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-battling West Brom that he had seen enough and decided to go back to the foundations of City’s success.

“At that moment we realised we were not brilliant, everything was heavy in terms of it was not natural,” Guardiola told BT Sport’s ‘Rio Meets’, which is hosted by former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.

“We adjusted something, to put more players in front of the box, but especially it was the day after the West Brom game, when we drew 1-1 at home.

“We could have won, but after I went to my friends and staff and said: ‘I don’t like the team, the way we play. It doesn’t matter about the result, I don’t recognise my team, the way they should play.’

“We just came back to the principles – A,B,C, that is all. So wingers high and wide, a lot of players in the middle, come back without the – run like animals – and with the ball be more calm, more passes help, think about more what we have to do.

“The quality of the players, with the confidence they win one game, then another one and another one. But when I think to the West Brom [game], I reflect and think: ‘I don’t like at all what I am watching.’ We came back to our principles, then the quality of the players has done the rest.”

Spaniard Guardiola, who took charge in 2016, has signed a contract extension that will keep him at City until at least 2023.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager added: “I have always had the feeling, the dream to come here [to England] – to train in the Shakespeare country, in The Beatles’ country, in Oasis country, the theatres, the movies. This country is special for many, many, many reasons and I wanted to live this.

“I hate November, December, January and February in England because I would like better weather, but I have everything to do my job, that is the reason why I extended my contract.

Despite their domestic dominance, Guardiola knows Champions League success remains very much on the agenda.

“I will have this pressure for the rest of my time here in England, I know it – if we do not get to the end, the latter stages or go through, it will be unfinished business, I accept it,” the City boss said.

“I cannot deny we were not able to do it in Europe, hopefully in this season or the next ones, we can make the next step.

PA