Pep Guardiola’s Man City still facing the ultimate test

If ever a manager was entitled to indulge in self-congratulation, it was Pep Guardiola after his Manchester City side went to Old Trafford, totally out-footballed their arch-rivals and nearest challengers, and came away with a 2-1 victory which was rather more emphatic than that narrow scoreline would suggest.

“People said we couldn’t play the way we did in Barcelona in England,” said Guardiola, a three-time La Liga winner in four seasons at the helm at the Nou Camp. “But it is possible and we did it. We can play this way in England. I knew that last season. Always, I believed we could do it. Everyone can play how they want, that’s why football is so beautiful. I’m happy to go to Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford and to beat them in this way.”

There might still be some way to go before Man City can collect the silverware which will give tangible meaning to their current domestic dominance but, barring a collapse of catastrophic proportions, their 11-point lead at the top is already looking like an unassailable advantage.