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

Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League table with their 1-0 win over Burnley on Wednesday night. Erling Haaland’s fifth minute goal was enough for City to claim all three points and move above Arsenal by virtue of goals scored. The two teams are now level on 70 points and goal difference, with five games left to play in the league this season. Looking at the reaction to City’s win over Burnley, there has been a school of thought that Pep Guardiola’s side needed to put Burnley to the sword to boost their goal difference. However, after City faced and beat Arsenal in a grueling match at the Etihad last Sunday, all Manchester City had to do was pick up three points against Burnley, which they did.

Manchester City got the job done against Burnley, nothing more.

Once Erling Haaland scored in the fifth minute against Burnley on Wednesday evening, Pep Guardiola’s side was rarely troubled by Burnley. Manchester City dominated the match and should have won by more than 1-0. City had the chances to double their lead, but it wasn’t to be. They also weren’t really troubled by Scott Parker’s side. The most nervy moment of the match was a 94th-minute corner for Burnley, for which their keeper Martin Dubravka went up. But City dealt with that and picked up the three points they needed to go top of the Premier League.

Some of the reaction to Manchester City’s win over Burnley has focused on City not increasing their goal difference at Turf Moor. Paul Merson, speaking on Sky Sports, believes Arsenal now somehow have the advantage in the title race. That conclusion is based on the assumption that Arsenal and City will win their final five Premier League matches. For goal difference to be a factor, that has to occur, and given Arsenal’s recent form, them winning five straight matches, plus Mikel Arteta’s side facing Atletico Madrid in a Champions League semi-final tie, seems to be something that may not occur. Points on the board matter now. Manchester City has that, and they also have the boost of leapfrogging Arsenal in the league table. Also, City has momentum, given they’ve won their past five matches in all competitions.

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.