Pep Guardiola’s champions were on the ropes at Villa Park but believe victory at Kenilworth Road could spark a run of glory
Sometimes, according to Pep Guardiola, “you need a punch in the face” to see how you react. Manchester City have received a metaphorical blow after four games without a win in the Premier League to derail their challenge for a fourth successive title. There is no shame in drawing against Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham, nor losing to a fantastic Aston Villa side away, but this will be the month when City’s desire is truly tested.
They begin a run of winnable games at Luton on Sunday and then, across the next 10 matches, go on to meet eight teams that began the weekend in the bottom half of the table. Given those fixtures, there is every chance City could enjoy three months of accumulating points after a difficult period. Guardiola has previously led City to a 21-game winning streak, so will not be intimidated by what lies ahead if he is to get his team back on track.
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