Sunday 26 November 2017 19:35, UK
Pep Guardiola has dismissed Manchester City's chances of finishing the season unbeaten but believes Sunday's late victory at Huddersfield could prove decisive in their quest to win the title.
City had to fight back from a goal down to restore their eight-point lead at the top of Premier League as Sergio Aguero's penalty and Raheem Sterling's winner cancelled out Nicolas Otamendi's first-half own goal.
After overcoming a resilient Terriers outfit in treacherous conditions in front of a raucous home crowd, Guardiola admitted City would lose at some point this season, given their busy schedule.
"We are going to lose, that is going to happen. Definitely," he told Sky Sports. "Today was so close that it's going to happen.
"Playing one day a week, maybe I would tell you it would be difficult to drop points, but when you play every three days, when you see the schedule for December and January - now we go to [Shakhtar] Donetsk to play the Champions League - it's impossible.
"We are going to lose but how we react during that game and after the game. That is important."
City's comeback saw them overturn a half-time deficit to win in an away Premier League game for the first time since April 1995.
And Guardiola was adamant the performance at the John Smith's Stadium - which saw them extend their winning streak in the Premier League to 11 games and unbeaten run in all competitions to 18 - will set them in good stead during the title run-in.
"Eighteen games in a row is amazing," he added. "We have 11 wins in a row in the Premier League. We are in a good moment.
"I'm pleased because I know our fans here today are so happy because they see their players fighting until the last second. That's what pleases me the most.
"It was a real Premier League game. Winter has come. These kind of situations, these kind of games, with less recovery time than the opponent, they are so physical, with 10 players defending. In their box it was so complicated.
"It was good to have that experience. We want to win the title and you cannot expect easy games. You have to live these kind of situations.
"We spoke at half-time about how we were going to react. It's football. The last minute we conceded a goal, but it's how you react to that. I'm talking about winning or losing. To not give up, be positive until the last second.
"It's amazing the crowd here at Huddersfield. We lived it last season in the FA Cup. We knew that. I saw the experience against United. The crowd always supports them a lot.
"In the second half there were a lot of interruptions. A lot of physicality and duels. But our lads stayed there. They saved the situation with a lot of personality. I'm so happy for the victory today."
After winning the penalty from which Aguero equalised, Sterling took his tally to 12 goals in 18 appearances for Manchester City this season, his best goal return in a single club season in all competitions.
"Raheem is young. Now he is a winning player. Before he made good actions but now he is winning games," Guardiola said.
"We're in November and he's already broken the record. I'm impressed. Not just in terms of how many goals he scores or how many goals he creates but in the game how he keeps the ball.
"Still he's young. If he is able to improve, we are going to be there to help him become a better player. We are so satisfied with his performance."
