Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola stated that he was impressed by Brentford’s “high pressing” and organisation at defending deep which pushed his side all the way in Wednesday night’s win in London.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola said, “For the way they played it was the best performance. We cannot play better when they play in this way. They were high pressing and it made it difficult for us to build up. After when they defend deep it is incredibly difficult as they are so organised. You cannot go inside as there are no spaces. When a team defend this way it is so difficult. You see how the other teams come here and they suffer. I know it. How many chances they create from corners, from throw-ins. We didn’t concede once or a shot on target in the second half.
“People expect that we will score four goals after 23 minutes. That is not the reality, that is the exception. The reality is this type of game. In some games you have to play one way, in others you play a different way. If you play quicker than usual they can make the transition with Ivan Toney and the other guys and you suffer. They create the counter-attacks and fee-kicks and throw-ins and at this they are the best team in the Premier League. Statistically this is the best team. We compete and we adjust something at half-time.
“There are 54 points to play for. It is not expected to have this distance for eight and nine, but Liverpool play one game less. But is is 54 points. In December no one is champion. We are going to lose games. I see in my mind, Arsenal, Chelsea, Southampton coming. We have a game in London against Arsenal, maybe one of the top teams right now. The best Arsenal in the last four or five years. I cannot say more than congratulations to the team but we must focus.”