Pep Guardiola believes the continuity in management at Manchester City gives his side an ‘advantage’ this season.
The Citizens began the defence of their Premier League crown with a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, as Guardiola’s side spoiled the opening fixture of former assistant Enzo Maresca’s reign in West London.
Chelsea are one of five clubs – including Liverpool – whose head coach this season is new to the Premier League, while Leicester and West Ham make it seven teams with a change of manager since last season.
City, by contrast, have started their ninth campaign with Guardiola at the helm and the Spaniard is now the second-longest serving manager in English football, behind Harrogate Town’s Simon Weaver.
Guardiola believes the familiarity with his methods has helped City start the season with three points despite a disjointed pre-season due to late returns from international tournaments.
“I didn’t expect it. We are away from our best so three points is the good news. The bad news is we have 65 games ahead of us,” Guardiola said to Sky Sports.
“We have an advantage, it’s our ninth season together so we know each other well. Of course there are mistakes you have to improve but we talked, the difference in being champions was our body language, how did we behave?
“It’s the bad moments in the season and in the games that define the big teams. For me, it is an honour to be in charge of these guys. I’m so fortunate, I could not say more.
“There is a plan, defensive, offensive. But afterwards it’s how we celebrate the good moments and come back from the bad moments.
“That’s what defines these teams and no one talks about it. For a while we could never win at Stamford Bridge. This is a big step.”
