Pep Guardiola said he will invite Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger for dinner after the Spaniard reached 250 wins in the Premier League in record time as a result of Manchester City’s victory against Brentford on Sunday.
Guardiola achieved the milestone 74 games faster than Arsene Wenger, who hit the 250 mark after 423 games; Guardiola, for reference, became the fastest to win that amount in his 349th outing.
And in celebration, the Catalan described it as an honour to be amongst the greatest to have graced the English game, but is ready to go for 250 more.
*“It’s an honour to be alongside Sir Alex Ferguson and **Arsene Wenger,*” Guardiola said. “I will invite all of them to dinner. I think it's an honour to sit at the table with them, so it's not bad.
“In 10 seasons, 250 victories is a lot. We started for one reason because we won a lot. I didn't know but it's nice.
“It’s a pleasure to be part of that in Premier League history. I was really pleased. Now let’s go for 250 more.”
Haaland: I've never felt better than now
Erling Haaland was the difference-maker once again for City as he scored his 18th goal of the season for club and country, toying with Brentford’s defence before slotting home the only goal of the game after nine minutes.
It marked an eighth consecutive game with a goal by Haaland, who looks to be at his best again in a slightly alternate role from the one he played last season.
The Norway forward has been seen dropping back more often and contributing to goals in all ways, be it one-touch possession or holding the ball up for wide players to overlap - and says that he has never felt better.
“I’ve never felt better than now,” Haaland told *Sky Sports Premier League. “So yeah you can say [I’m in the form of my life]. I think it’s about preparation first, getting ready for games. You can be physically ready but you need to be mentally ready as well.*
Haaland opened the scoring after nine minutes at the Gtech Community Stadium (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
“And to be honest I think with a kid, it makes me even better because I actually disconnect more than ever. I don’t think of football at all which, sometimes, when you’re younger you think of this and that, and maybe worry a little about things.
“But when I go home I relax even more so I think I need to give a shoutout to my son.”
Haaland’s opener on Sunday was his ninth so far in the Premier League this season as he bids to become the league’s top scorer for a third time in four seasons; he currently sits top ahead of Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo (6) and Burnley's Jaidon Anthony (4).
For all his goalscoring glory, Guardiola insisted his creation can make just as big an impact, and that he would like to see more goals from others within his team.
“Keep going,” said Guardiola when asked what his message to Haaland was at full-time. “He was tired but keep going. He has been so important for us. We need more goals from other ones but the chances were there.
“The wingers have to score more, the wingers have to score in those situations one against one, one against two, they had to finish more but step by step we will.
“It was much more solid with the team, we will be fine.”
Rodri says "I'm good" after being forced off in first half
It was almost the perfect day for City as they jumped to fifth in the league table, closing the gap to leaders Arsenal to three points. But Guardiola’s side’s afternoon in West London was tarnished after Rodri was forced off after 21 minutes.
The former Ballon d’Or winner dropped to the floor in a dejected and frustrated state, clutching his right hamstring but gave a hopeful message after the game by reiterating that it’s not as bad as it looked.
“I’m good,” Rodri told Simon Bajkowski from the Manchester Evening News. “I felt a little bit in the hamstring but it seems like it's not that much.
Rodri has suffered from frequent injuries since returning from an ACL tear (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
“The important thing was the victory. I stretched the leg a little, a bit like in the Euros final. I stretched a little but it's part of the process.
He added: “I don't feel tired muscle wise, I feel fresh but the most important thing is it's not that big. It's part of the process. The good thing about this is you get out, you don't let the muscle stretch now.
“The good thing is the break so it will be even better in this sense to recover these days and hopefully I can be in the next game.”