Pep Guardiola throwaway comment hides one of Man City's greatest strengths

Pep Guardiola is so skilled at subtly throwing shade in press conferences that it can be hard to work out exactly how serious he is being.

Some football fans thought he was taking the mickey after Manchester City's win over Brentford when he framed their 12-point lead at the top of the table as excellent work towards qualifying for the Champions League next season.

"We are in a good position, 60 points in this moment," he said. "We have a lot of distance from fifth to qualify for the Champions League next season. This is the most important target in the Premier League and try to arrive in the last games fighting for the Premier League. This is what I want to do."

Dismissing comments about them being the best team in the world at the minute as 'stupid' even though his opposite number for the evening Thomas Frank had just uttered those words, the City boss downplayed their position to such an extent that many concluded he must have been joking.

It's possible of course, but less likely when you consider that all of the success Guardiola has had at the Etihad and the achievements he takes most pride in concern not giving in to complacency.

When people said City had won the league in 2017/18 with months to spare, they kept going to reach 100 points; when every other champion of the previous decade had surrendered their title, the Blues not only fought for their but won it again; when he asks Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Rodri to play 90 minutes at Swindon Town, they do.

Guardiola does not let himself or his players get ahead of themselves, because the minute he senses a distraction there is a problem that needs to be fixed.

It may seem strange that a man such as Guardiola wouldn't be able to tell you who won the Copa