Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted that it is too early to declare his side champions-elect despite moving 11 points clear at the top of the table this afternoon.
City beat local rivals and closest challengers Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford to rack up a record 14th consecutive Premier League victory and maintain their remarkable record of having dropped just two points in the top flight so far this season.
Many observers claimed before the match that victory for City would all but wrap up the title, but Guardiola warns that it is premature to draw such conclusions in December.
"The personality to play here is what I want. We can play this way in England. People said we couldn't play the way we did in Barcelona in England but it is possible and we did it," he told Sky Sports News.
"I knew that last season. Always I believed we could do it. Everyone can play how they want, that's why football is so beautiful. I'm happy to go to Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford and to beat them in this way.
"Football is incredible. We spoke about how to play United but never set pieces offensively, and then we score two. Football is unpredictable.
"This win means a lot in the way we played for our confidence but in three days we go to Swansea in the winter time. We are going to face a lot of difficulties. In December it's impossible to be champions but it's good for us."
City are now on the best single-season winning run in Premier League history, while they have equalled Arsenal's all-time winning streak of 14 matches set over two seasons.
Barney Corkhill
