The Blues moved top of the Premier League table on goal difference with a thumping 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace, making history in the process as the first top flight team to win by five or more goals in three consecutive games in one season since the 1958/59 campaign.
Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling staked strong claims for regular starting spots with impressive displays, while Guardiola was able to rest Gabriel Jesus, allowing Sergio Aguero to move to within two goals of breaking the Club’s all-time goalscoring record.
While displays of such quality provide Guardiola with a selection headache, the Catalan insists it is a pleasant problem to have with his players aware their standards cannot afford to drop and performing at their highest levels.
“They know it and they feel it,” the manager told press. “They know the players alongside them are all playing well and that is the best way.
“You are not going to have every player playing three games in a week for 11 months. We need that competition.
“If the next guy is playing well, they have to play well and keep winning. That’s how you get the best performances.
“We need Ilkay Gundogan to put pressure on Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, for example.
The way Danilo played at left-back was outstanding too – how aggressive he was in defence and attack.
“Everybody has to push the other ones.”
Guardiola added he feels Sane has benefitted from the competition – evident with his recent success.
“Sometimes players need a bit more time than the other ones,” he continued. “I knew – with all the things he had done – that he would be fit and motivated to help us throughout the season.
“I am so satisfied with him since he arrived. When he arrived last season, it was a little bit scary for him – living in a new country with no apartment; living in a hotel – and he had to get used to the tempo of the Premier League, which isn’t easy for anyone.
“Once he got it, he started to play regularly and score goals. He was at a high level and he is playing at a high level this season too.”
Asked whether his side have made a statement of their title credentials in recent weeks and whether their goal difference advantage is already significant, Guardiola replied: “We are in September.
“Chelsea won 4-0 at Stoke and Manchester United have kept five or six clean sheets in a row... the competition is so tough. All the big teams are strong.
“Maybe in March – if everything is still tight – goal difference will be important but let’s not focus on that now.
“We always try to score as many goals as we can for our fans. We want to win.
“It’s too early to say whether we will win the Premier League or qualify for the Champions League.
“We spoke about scoring a lot of goals in the last four or five games of last season when we needed to win every game to qualify for the Champions League and every goal was important – but goal difference is not a focus this early in the season.
“The best way to respect your opponents is to keep attacking them. We give everything. We play to attack as much as possible.
“Before I arrived here, people said it would be easy but it’s hard.
“After you have scored the first and second goals, yes, it can be easier. In football, when we analyse the numbers, we have no regrets but the way we play, there is still so much we can improve on.”
