Pep Guardiola warned his Manchester City players to ignore the compliments after thrashing West Ham United 4-0 on Saturday.
City have now taken 35 points from their opening 13 matches, but are just two points ahead of Liverpool after the Reds’ away win over Watford maintained their best-ever start to a season.
Leroy Sane scored twice and added an assist while Raheem Sterling grabbed one assist and a goal with Guardiola impressed that his young players were prepared to carry on working hard.
But the former Barcelona manager cautioned his young team from putting too much stock in what they read in the papers.
“When they listen and read so many comments that it’s done, they are fantastic and these kind of things, that is a dangerous situation and they can be confused,” Guardiola told a news conference. “Everything we do, it hurts, we work hard and push each other a lot — my staff to me, me to my staff, my staff to the players and them to us. We demand many things between each other and it is the only way.
“And today when you see Raz and Leroy and after Riyad [Mahrez] coming back, helping our full-backs even in the 60th, 70th, 80th minute and 3-0 in front, that is the signal that OK, let’s go and try it again.”
Sane took his chance after returning to the starting lineup after a run in and out of Guardiola’s side, capping an impressive performance with two goals.
And the City boss says it is to be expected that the German winger’s form fluctuates as he is still young at just 22.
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