Pep Guardiola spots Man City learning from mistake that helped Liverpool in 2019

Pep Guardiola says the 'smell' in Manchester City training is encouraging as he noted a positive difference in his players from the last time they tried to win a third Premier League title in a row.

After winning the title in 2018 and 2019, City started the 2019/20 season poorly as Liverpool embarked on a brilliant run from the start of the campaign. They were well clear by the time the season was paused for lockdown, and strolled to their first Premier League title after the fixtures resumed.

City have won the last two titles since then, and are looking for a third in a row this season — and Guardiola says he can see a positive difference from that 2019/20 season already.

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"I think we were quite consistent in these five games," Guardiola said of City's unbeaten start to the campaign.

"Even in America, in pre-season against Bayern Munich, we were quite consistent. We don’t change our patterns much. When we talk, it is [do] the same, the same. It gives confidence to the team and helps. It feels good. It is just five Premier League games though.

"After back-to-back Premier League titles I said I wanted to take a look at how the people come back in pre-season, how they start the games, because the third season after back-to-back was really bad, how we started. Liverpool flew and we could not catch them.

"I was curious this year, about the smell in training sessions and in pre-season. Since day one, I like what I’ve seen. We have to try to continue because if you relax a little bit in this league then I know what is going to happen. The big mistake for tomorrow is to think 'ah, Aston Villa' and then not start well. Huge mistake for us."

Guardiola then stressed