Pep Guardiola: Swansea press conference
City boss Pep Guardiola admitted maintaining focus is a challenge when the season’s ultimate objective - winning the Premier League - has already been achieved.
But City kept the accelerator pedal pressed firmly to the floor at the Etihad Stadium, scoring five goals of outstanding quality through David Silva, Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus.
Guardiola declared: “The important thing is the performance, we played at a similar level to this season.
“Swansea have lost just three games with Carlos (Carvalhal) as manager. It’s not easy against them, we attacked really well.
“It’s great to watch our fans enjoying our game. We want to try and play good.
“It’s never unfinished business in football, you have to keep improving. Looking for records helps to keep the players focused. The Premier League is won, now it’s the record. The numbers keep the players focused.
“Always you drop the focus after winning. But from the beginning we saw they were there. They did an amazing warm-up to show they were there.
“Now it’s important to finish with a good feeling for our fans. Now we have two days off and then we prepare for West Ham. We want to finish in a good way, especially at home.”
Guardiola had a special word of thanks for the fans, who created a party atmosphere inside the sunny Etihad all afternoon.
“The fans have reacted amazingly and it means a lot to us,” Guardiola added. “We are an honest and humble team in terms of how we play and how we press. “People realise that and that’s why we are close. The fans saw the performance.
“When we play well we are closer. The better the performances, the closer we are to the fans.”
The pick of the goals was probably De Bruyne’s 30-yard thunderbolt that arrowed into the top corner on the diagonal.
The Belgian is up for Sunday evening’s PFA Player of the Year award but whatever the outcome of that vote, he has been the top man this season for Guardiola.
Guardiola reflected: “In my opinion there was no player better than him in terms of continuity every three days in all competitions.
“Maybe there are guys better than him numbers wise. But this season he has been the best. That’s my opinion, the opinions of those who are voting for it might be different. At the end, we will be at home in the summer and he will be a champion.”
Guardiola added that John Stones remains out with an abductor injury but he has a chance of returning this season.