Foden can power this side to even more glory

UNSTOPPABLE. It doesn’t matter whether you want to talk about Phil Foden when he gets a yard on the edge of the box or City across four Premier League seasons – the answer is the same.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

From the smallest details to the biggest pictures, Pep Guardiola’s side are celebrating an unrivalled achievement in English football as the first team to win four consecutive titles because they take nothing for granted in their quest for greatness.

The manager was determined to drill into his players that however good they are they could be on the wrong end of an upset against West Ham, especially given it nearly went so wrong at Spurs in the week.

Even when Foden scored twice inside the opening 20 minutes to dispel any nerves, Guardiola pulled captain Kyle Walker aside while the rest of the team celebrated to pass over messages that he felt the team needed to hear.

That is the mentality that has lifted City to unprecedented heights in the game and will see them remembered as one of the all-time great sides.

The complacency never came and after 35 minutes West Ham had already faced more shots on target (nine) than they have in the 20 years that Opta have been recording that data – two minutes later, second choice goalkeeper Stefan Ortega saved well from Mohammed Kudus to protect the lead and moments later the stadium was again on the feet as news came through of an Everton goal at Arsenal.

All those hoping to either have a nerveless afternoon or write about boring inevitabilities were thwarted by Kudus, though, who scored a terrific overhead kick to get West Ham back into the game just before half-time. From nowhere, the jitters had appeared.