Raheem Sterling‘s goal secured three points against a stubborn Newcastle side with City’s gap at the top of the table now a remarkable 15 points.
The Magpies had a clear game-plan, sitting deep for the most part before a late spell of pressure, but the Blues held on.
Guardiola said: “As a manager I have to adapt. In these 18 games, we have played teams who high press, low press, attack us. Any manager and team can play how they want. And you have to find a way to beat them.”
“We deserved to win,” he added. “It’s not easy when Newcastle don’t want to play.
“They defend well and want to counter-attack and defend deep. It’s not easy.
“We created chances in the frist half and the beginning of the second.
“In the last minutes... it was a little more complicated.”
Newcastle 0-1 City: Official verdict
City hit the post three times, twice through Sergio Aguero and once via Kevin De Bruyne’s shot from distance, with the Blues’ shot count ending on 18.
Guardiola declared: “We created chances. At half-time it could have been three or four.
“It’s okay. When you’re winning 18 games in a row, you have 10/15 mins in that way but we are so happy.”
There is precious little recovery time now for City with a trip to Crystal Palace next up on New Year’s Eve before a hectic January schedule.
“I see the schedule in my office,” Guardiola said. “January is tough, with Carabao Cup and Premier League games, FA Cup. It will be tough. The best way is to analyse and speak to the doctors. All we can do is think about Palace.”
The boss confirmed that Vincent Kompany was forced off early with an injury and he will be assessed in due course.
