Guéhi hits back at ‘easy win’ claims after Man City grind past Burnley

• Guéhi says critics “don’t know football” after City’s narrow win at Burnley
• Manchester City go top despite wasteful finishing in dominant display
• Defender praises partnership with Khusanov amid injury absences

Marc Guéhi has dismissed suggestions that Manchester City should have comfortably beaten Burnley, insisting those expectations ignore the realities of a title run-in.

City moved top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Turf Moor, courtesy of an early strike from Erling Haaland. The result also confirmed Burnley’s relegation and ended Arsenal’s 200-day spell at the summit.

Despite dominating with 28 shots, City were unable to extend their lead, prompting questions over their finishing. Guéhi, however, pointed to the context surrounding the match.

“Everyone thinks these games are easy,” he said. “You’re playing a team fighting for their lives, it’s not going to be easy. Whoever thought it was going to be easy clearly doesn’t know football.”

The defender emphasised the importance of securing the result rather than chasing a larger margin of victory.

“The most important thing was just to get the win,” he added, with City now leading the table on goals scored with five games remaining.

Guéhi also highlighted the defensive effort required to preserve the lead, particularly alongside Abdukodir Khusanov, as injuries to Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol have reshaped the back line.

“It’s really nice to play with Khusa,” he said. “He’s so good, so fast, a really intelligent defender. We complement each other really well.”

Their partnership has contributed to a run of positive results against top opposition, including victories over Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, helping City maintain momentum in the title race.

While the standings now favour City, Guéhi insisted the focus remains internal rather than on rivals.

“We can only control what we can control,” he said. “It’s about making sure we do our best in the games that we have.”

With an FA Cup semifinal against Southampton next, City’s schedule offers little respite. But if this performance showed anything, it is that the title race may hinge as much on resilience as it does on flair.

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.

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