Manchester City vs Burnley: Pep Guardiola explains why his team has a duty to entertain

City secured a routine 5-0 victory over Burnley to reach the FA Cup fifth round

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Saturday 26 January 2019 14:51 EST
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Manchester City: A look back at 2018

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Pep Guardiola insisted that Manchester City have a duty to entertain their public after his side registered yet another heavy cup win at the Etihad on Saturday.

City secured a routine 5-0 victory over Burnley to reach the FA Cup fifth round, having already progressed to EFL Cup final earlier this week.

Since the 2-1 victory over Liverpool at the start of the month, City have scored 28 unanswered goals and recorded big victories over the likes of Rotherham and Burton Albion.

“I think all the clubs when they play, they play to score goals,” Guardiola said. “Sometimes it’s more counter-attacks, set-pieces or whatever, but everybody wants to win and that’s the best way.

“At the end, it’s a game we play for the people. The people come here and prefer to see their team try to attack. We’ve done that from the beginning, since we came here.”

City endured a difficult December, losing three of their seven Premier League games that month, but a return to form since the new year has rejuvenated their season.

“It’s our eighth game in a row of winning. It’s good,” Guardiola said.

“We played against a League One and Championship teams in the Carabao and FA Cup but even in that position you have to score goals and it’s not easy.

“I’m most delighted by the fact that everyone is involved this month, everybody plays. Some more than others, but everybody plays and they all understand.

“All together we can achieve it. We’ve won one title this season [Community Shield] and we want to arrive in the right stages in the FA Cup.

“We need that, we need everybody. On Tuesday [against Newcastle United in the league], another five or six players will play. That’s the only way if you are involved in all the competitions.”

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