Guardiola to keep Man City's foot on pedal in ominous sign for the rest of EPL

Pep Guardiola walked into the dressing room at just gone 10pm on Tuesday and thought the atmosphere felt too flat for his liking.

Manchester City had qualified for the Champions League knockout stages again and his players wore a collective shrug. Young Boys had been despatched comfortably, making it four wins from four. Routine.

‘Please, celebrate,’ Guardiola told the squad. ‘Because one day, maybe we are not there if we stop doing what we have to do.’

Although this year’s group has been easier to motivate than in previous seasons, Guardiola’s speech is more evidence, if it were required, that he refuses to take anything for granted. An achievement is still an achievement.

To have qualified for the Champions League knockout stages in each of his campaigns in charge is certainly worthy of celebration. City only have to gaze across town at Manchester United for a reminder that this should not be taken for granted.

It can happen to any elite club, as Sunday’s opponents Chelsea know all too well, with Guardiola’s genius exacting the sort of standards that never see City the butt of jokes. It is partly what makes their continued presence near the top so ominous for the rest of this season — and probably a few more to come, too.

After the sands shifted last weekend — with Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool all dropping points — there is already a premature rush to anoint them Premier League champions again, as they chase a record fourth consecutive title.

It is not actually that common for City to sit top at this stage — ‘unexpected,’ said Guardiola — and the manager is surprised at the general level of performance so far, a defeat at Wolves aside.

The Catalan was ‘curious’ to see how his squad would react to winning the Treble, but