'Another body language' - Pep Guardiola explains how he's revitalised Man City after slow start as manager reveals he's been 'wowed' by one player

City capped off a fine week as they downed Burnley at the Etihad Stadium. Following their 2-0 win over League One side Huddersfield Town in the third round of the Carabao Cup in midweek, Guardiola’s men secured all three points against Burnley. Haaland netted his seventh and eighth league goals of the season after Clarets defender Maxime Esteve twice put the ball into his own net either side of a strike from Matheus Nunes.

The victory over Burnley means City are now unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions, with four of those ending in victories. After beating rivals Manchester United 3-0 on September 14, City also beat Napoli in their Champions League opener before downing Huddersfield and Burnley. The only game City were not able to win in that impressive run was their 1-1 draw with Arsenal last Sunday.

And Guardiola has since highlighted City’s win over United as the turning point in a season which saw them lose successive league games against Tottenham and Brighton following an opening-day victory over Wolves. In his press conference after the Burnley game, Guardiola said: "I think since the United game [the 3-0 derby win two weeks ago] the team show another way, another body language. Even when they were not playing good against Arsenal, how they defend, how they help each other in that many times. It's the key for everything."

Guardiola was also full of praise for winger Jeremy Doku following the victory over Burnley. The Belgium international’s end product has often been questioned during his time at City but Guardiola believes he has turned a corner with his decision-making, having recorded his third league assist of the season for Haaland’s first goal against Scott Parker’s side.

When asked about Doku’s impressive display against Burnley, Guardiola added: "I ask the wingers in the final third to go one versus one or one versus two and I have the feeling that Jeremy's decision-making in the final third improved, like, wow! Comparing to the past, he made an assist to Erling and sees the channels.

"He's an incredible threat against teams that are a low block and deep. Jeremy is really important. When the team is transitional maybe he can struggle a bit but he had the ball and brought the opponent to the box. Now he is reading good. When Jeremy goes there for the second goal, two or three opponents go there.

"They don't allow him to go one versus one because he's unstoppable. There is no winger over five-ten metres stronger than Jeremy - he can go left or right. Now he is reading when the opponents go two or three who the other man is to be free to create a cross or an extra pass. He improved a lot."

City will be hoping to prolong their unbeaten run when they travel to Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday. They will then head to Brentford in the Premier League next Sunday before the international break commences. City play host to Everton in the league on 18 October, in their first match back from the upcoming international fixtures.