Yaya Toure: Manchester City must “believe”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has heaped praise on his players for their show of character against Burnley in a 2-1 win.

Kevin De Bruyne was one of the players who failed to impress in Saturday’s loss versus Liverpool, but Guardiola has dismissed suggestions the Belgium worldwide is exhausted following his Euro 2016 participation. “In 2014, we had a very good run after the New Year, we won almost all the games”.

Ten-man Manchester City moved up to third as they withstood a spirited Burnley fightback in front of a relieved Etihad Stadium. While Burnley must keep gathering points to avoid relegation.

“I’m not too concerned since we are not starting badly and conceding goal”, Guardiola said.

For half a decade Aguero has been tearing apart Premier League defences and all signs point to him doing so for quite a while yet.

City doubled their lead four minutes later courtesy of a sublime Sergio Aguero finish from a tight angle, 2-0.

He added: ‘When you win 12 or 13 games in a row (like Chelsea), it is not easy but we start the second half of the season now.

On Saturday’s evidence, they need to try harder. Dyche will be delighted with his team’s form, but the manager will also know things can go awry pretty easily.

Take a look at the full countdown here – and let’s hope Sergio can get the ball rolling early in 2017 against the Clarets!

City have one of the best squads in Europe but sometimes they have problems beating the more physical teams like Burnley.

Guardiola seemed particularly irritated by Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho’s sending off during the match – his third red card already this season.

“I was one time at Barcelona nine points behind Real Madrid and after that we recovered”. We have played with 10 men against 11 in a lot of circumstances’.

‘I didn’t see it, ‘ he said of the Fernandinho tackle.

A narrow defeat at a venue where Manchester City have won just once in 35 years is not a cause for ripping up the blueprint just yet perhaps. Burnley have no injury or suspension issues going into this game at the Etihad.

Managers must be familiar with doing a post-match interview for TV.

UK: TV and online: No live coverage.

India: TV: Star Sports Select HD2.

Canada: TV: Sportsnet. Live Streaming: Watch Sportsnet World.