It's game, set-piece and match as City reap rewards of training

PEP Guardiola regularly rues the little time that City get on the training pitch given their schedule.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

With the way the Premier League champions have returned from their Abu Dhabi camp, the rest of the division are probably grateful.

City put a particular emphasis on setpieces for their week in the sun, making the most of their break from games to hone how good they could be in both boxes - and after Nathan Ake scored the winner from a corner against Tottenham last Friday, Julian Alvarez's second against Burnley came via a quick freekick that was far too good for the visitors.

Guardiola went straight over to set-piece specialist Carlos Vicens on the bench, the man responsible for transforming City's ability from dead-ball situations. It was Vicens who spearheaded a Premier League record of a net 20 goals from setpieces during his first year on the first team staff after moving up from the academy to play a significant role in the Blues clinching the title.

While they have been decent since, they haven't been exceptional and have slipped from the league's best in those markers. It was clearly highlighted as a potential area for improvement and the results since Abu Dhabi have been extremely promising. It's the sort of thing that sums up why City have been so successful for so long, with staff alert enough to notice the minimal tweaks that can have a major difference and players quick enough and intelligent enough to instantly pick up and execute what is being asked of them.

Having won the Treble with four big centre-backs, Guardiola has gone back to set-pieces for innovation this season.

They weren't the only throwback on a wet and chilly night at the Etihad.