City maintain the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United thanks to goals from Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva.
After five successive matches on the road, it was a welcome return to the Etihad Stadium and after a tough itinerary, the first team have a couple of days off to relax.
But we then have a trip to Crystal Palace in the Premier League followed by the Champions League second leg against RB Leipzig and FA Cup game with Vincent Kompany’s Burnley back at home.
“We have two days off for everyone - it’s not necessary to see each other for a while because it’s been really tough with travelling and no days off,” Guardiola said.
“Before the international break then we have three games in six days in three different competitions and they will define our season.
“Palace, Leipzig and Burnley will define our season and what we are able to do for the rest of the season.”
City go into that run unbeaten in seven matches and having won our last three following the win over Newcastle.
Eddie Howe’s side had lost twice before their visit to the Etihad and Guardiola was delighted with his side’s performance with the threat that the Magpies possess.
“They are an exceptional team,” the boss added. “We started the first five minutes [so-so] and after we got the goal that helped us with a brilliant action from Phil.
“We were a little bit lucky with the deflection but he was aggressive like he always has been. We missed that a little bit this season – [the mindset of] it doesn’t matter what happened, I’ll go at you. When that happens, a deflection will come for your side.
“We played a really good first half, the second we started really well, then they had the momentum and then we break the game - up and down.
“That is why we decided to bring on Bernardo because he helps us to make possessions longer. We needed to keep the ball and that is part of his intuition, to take the ball in the middle.
“To always take the ball between the legs, he has this incredible ability. We won the game, we didn’t suffer much at the end - an incredible result for us because it was a tricky game.”
Erling Haaland claimed the assist for Bernardo’s goal and while he wasn’t able to continue his incredible goal-scoring streak, the boss was delighted his contribution.
“He made a brilliant assist and fought a lot,” Guardiola said. “He is a guy that after the game goes in the locker room and if we won and he didn’t score he’s incredibly happy.
“Look at the way he celebrated the goal from Bernardo. When you see the body language of these kind of things you realise this guy is involved.
“Of course, he wants to score goals and will score more but he wants to win. We won the game and still we are there.”
