Manchester City weren’t at their best against Burnley but they did what they had to do at Turf Moor

What was also apparent in Manchester City’s performance against Burnley is that the mental and physical fatigue from their win over Arsenal was on full display. Sunday’s match at the Etihad was a trying match, and City won that and did their job against Burnley. That’s all they had to do at Turf Moor.

As Erling Haaland pointed out, all that matters now is winning.

As Erling Haaland pointed out after Manchester City’s win over Burnley, all that matters now is that City keep winning. Haaland spoke with Sky Sports after City’s win at Turf Moor, and he pointed this out while being pressed on whether City should have scored more against Scott Parker’s side. He said: “Ha! Yeah, we had a lot of chances, but I am happy we won, and anything else, I don’t think about. Just try to win.”

Erling Haaland was pressed several times by the Sky Sports reporter, if Manchester City should have scored more against Burnley, it was a topic he wouldn’t address he said: “We tried to play our football, and just try to win. That is what you have to have in your mindset, and now, we focus on Saturday (Southampton in the FA Cup). Don’t think about other goals. Think about winning, as I’ve said now three times.”

Lastly, Haaland put the topic to bed with Sky Sports when asked again about City’s lack of goals against Burnley, he explained: “1-0 is amazing. I am super happy. I don’t know why you keep asking that – I am super happy. We won and we got three points, and as they (Man City) fans sing, we are top of the league.”

Final thoughts.

Time will tell if goal difference will settle this season’s Premier League title race. There is still five games to go in the season, with plenty of twists and turns to come. All that matters right now, as Erling Haaland explained, is that Manchester City sit top of the Premier League. That was the goal for Pep Guardiola’s side ahead of kick-off against Burnley. They achieved that goal and now sit where they want to be for the run-in. That has been lost in some of the analysis of Manchester City’s win over Burnley.

Arsenal were nine points clear of Manchester City only two weeks ago. They have surrendered that position to Pep Guardiola’s side, and that says a lot more than how many goals City didn’t score against Scott Parker’s side.