‘A culture to win’ – how have Man City turned form around?

September had the potential to cause Manchester City and Pep Guardiola to experience a crisis following the disappointing August.

Before the international break, City had concerns after suffering four successive Premier League defeats against Brighton and Tottenham. However, they have since won four games in a row. The Guardiola garden is once more rosy.

With two Maxime Esteve own goals and Erling Haaland scoring twice in the closing seconds, Scott Parker’s side battled hard for Saturday’s 5-1 victory over Burnley.

However, at the same time as Liverpool, the title-winning champions and Premier League leaders, suffered a last-gasp defeat at Crystal Palace, allowing City to reduce their deficit to five points.

Guardiola’s end-of-the-day expression displayed a man who was both proud of the team’s victory and concerned that City are on the verge of regaining their best form.

Although the scoreline did flatter them, City must take advantage of the opportunities when Liverpool let them down, and they did so on this occasion.

Guardiola claims to have changed his tactics, but he is starting a young City side with the unstoppable Haaland in the front line. Bernardo Silva, Nathan Ake, and John Stones’ combined experience to start the game off the bench.

Their seven-game winning streak included victories over Napoli, Huddersfield, and Burnley on Saturday, with the only letdown being a late draw at Arsenal last Sunday. Their first seven games in 22 days in three competitions saw them defeat rivals Manchester United.

The training was going well and the team had confidence heading into the derby, which was a feeling that was not lost because it led to a result that City had taken advantage of.

If City can finish off the season with further encouraging results at Monaco and Brentford next week, Guardiola will be pleased with the progress being made. This period of games would not have been City’s best bet, but it would have provided a good indicator of where the team are now.

Guardiola said, “These new players must understand that this club has a culture that you have to win.” Without that, what has happened in the last ten years would not have happened where we were, by far, England’s best team in terms of numbers and everything.

The players believe that all the patterns and mentality are present throughout every training session to perform at your best. After just six Premier League games, I never considered that when we had previously won the leagues. I just thought about the potential benefits of the upcoming games.

Without players who are not used to playing in the past, such as John, Nathan, and Bernardo, the young, young team is still in existence. The team is excellent, in my opinion.

You are so good, guys, I always say that. I’m hoping they will think of me.

Phil Foden appears to have recovered from Kevin de Bruyne’s departure, who is now in good form and is returning to the form that made him the 2024 PFA Players’ Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Year.

Haaland had barely had a sniff as the clock drew nearer to the final minute of the game against Burnley, but the Norwegian goal machine suddenly came to life.

The 25-year-old won the game in the 90th minute before flying home in style three minutes later to clinch the plaudits once more.

His manager highlighted the crucial role he plays in the team, adding 15 goals to his total this season in just nine games.

Guardiola said, “Doing his best Roy Keane impression is his job,” Guardiola said. He scored twice for Matheus Nunes, who won 2-1, and added an assist. He is a very significant figure to us.

“He always seems to have the potential to score, and I’m very pleased with the team’s performance.”