Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admits he would rather be feeling under pressure than none at all after his side recorded a 4-0 win over Leeds United at Elland Road.
City reclaimed top spot in the Premier League table with just four games to go as Rodri, Nathan Ake, Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho all got themselves on the scoresheet to climb back above Liverpool and end Leeds’ five-match unbeaten run in the process.
Guardiola's side had dropped to second in the table, albeit for around three hours, before facing Leeds after Liverpool had recorded a 1-0 win over an in-form Newcastle United side at St James' Park during the lunchtime kick-off.
Both City and Liverpool are completely neck and neck in the race for the title, with the Sky Blues leading by just one point heading into their final four league games of the campaign. Yet, both of the title contenders are in the Champions League semi-finals, with this weekend's games coming ahead of second leg clashes with Real Madrid and Villarreal respectively, with the English duo leading in both ties.
Despite all that is on City's place as they chase a sixth Premier League title and a first in Europe, Guardiola admitted at full-time that he would rather be under pressure than have none at all. "I prefer to feel pressure than not feel it. It’s a long season but now it’s a long effort." Guardiola told Sky Sports after the win.
Although they faced an early scare when a Joao Cancelo slip almost led to a chance for Raphinha in the third minute, City took the lead in the opening 15 minutes when Rodri rose above Kalvin Phillips to head in Phil Foden's free-kick.
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Foden's set-pieces were again key when City doubled their lead early in the second half. His corner was flicked on by Ruben Dias, with fellow defender Ake on hand to convert City's second of the game. Two then became three with Foden at the heart of it once more as his put through Jesus before the Brazilian finished with aplomb.
Despite City having a battle on their hands to keep out a Leeds side who were in-form ahead of kick-off, their final knockout punch came in stoppage time as substitute Fernandinho lashed in from distance to seal a 4-0 victory.
City cannot focus too much on their Premier League title hopes over the next few days with a trip to the Stadio Bernabeu fresh on the horizon. Guardiola's side head to Madrid against a Real side who clinched the La Liga title on Saturday afternoon with a 4-0 win over Espanyol at home.
In the first leg, City and Real played out one of the games of the season last Tuesday as City recorded a 4-3 victory at the Etihad Stadium. Kevin De Bruyne, Jesus, Foden and Bernardo Silva were all on the scoresheet.
For Liverpool, they will also face a Champions League trip to Spain on Tuesday night when they face Villarreal in the second leg of their clash. The first leg ended 2-0 at Anfield, with Sadio Mane scoring just two minutes after Pervis Estupinan's own goal.
Liverpool are still competing for a unprcedented quadruple, having won the Carabao Cup this season. They are also in next month's FA Cup final, facing Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.
