Manchester City broke another record on Saturday, beating Brighton 2-1.
Whether it’s praising the team that beat Manchester City, heaping too much praise on a player or spotting a mean interviewer after a defeat, Pep Guardiola’s post-match interviews are often worth watching.
The Catalan manager had this to say after City’s 4-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur in January 2023: Guardiola took aim at the Etihad crowd as he punished his team at Happy Flowers.
“Our fans were silent for 45 minutes,” he complained.
“I want my fans back.
I want my fans here.
They are the best, not the away fans.
But I want my fans to support every angle, every move.”
It is debatable whether the City loyalists have responded to their manager’s criticism. But the results clearly show a revival.
The win against Tottenham was their second successive home win thanks to Guardiola and his gentle support.
Nine months later, a 2–1 win over Brighton took City to 21 wins in all competitions.
This is the biggest of the Premier League clubs.
To make the statistical milestone even sweeter, City surpassed the record set by rivals Manchester United.
While Sir Alex Ferguson was still in charge of the red half of Manchester, United enjoyed a 20-match winning streak at Old Trafford between December 2010 and September 2011.
The run ended in a 3–3 draw against Basel, but City was the weakest.
They are the first team to beat United at Old Trafford after back-to-back wins.
Manager Roberto Mancini’s side suffered an infamous 6-1 defeat due to a fan’s interpretation of the game.
When the goal went past David de Gea, a fan shouted into the microphone: “Take it!” Take this! 3-0 in the swamp! ‘This is a dream!’
The city did not directly request the records.
Sunderland won 24 consecutive home games in a golden era in 1891/92.
131 years ago, football was a very different sport.
Permanent braces were introduced mid-season and Sunderland goalkeeper Ned Doig insisted on covering his hairline with his hat so much that he gave up mid-game goals when the wind picked up.
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Roaming goalkeepers make Sunderland’s performances even more impressive.
Guardiola’s outburst after the win against Tottenham was not his first attack on his own fans.
In 2020, the demanding manager has asked the club’s fans to ensure the Etihad is “full, full, full” at every game.
City’s home stadium was quickly renamed “Emptyhad” by rival fans.
Crowds at the 53,400-capacity stadium never dipped below 50,000 during City’s 21-match winning streak. More than half of these series produced fewer than 400 blanks.
More than 52,000 people attended the series, perhaps Guardiola’s most impressive win as a city manager.
The hosts choked out European champions Real Madrid in the second leg of last season’s Champions League semi-finals.
City, who were 2-0 up at half-time, had 197 shots in the offensive third and conceded just 10 to Madrid.
In a pre-match text message sent by Guardiola to Rio Ferdinand, he predicted City would lose 4-0 tonight.
City fans certainly enjoyed their evening.
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