Sunday 13 May 2018 18:47, UK
Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City's remarkable feat of 100 Premier League points as a reward for their style of play this season.
The Premier League champions reached the unprecedented mark thanks to Gabriel Jesus' 94th-minute winner against Southampton.
It capped off an unprecedented campaign from City, who became the first top-flight side in English football history to achieve 100 points and 32 wins in one season.
Asked to summarise their achievement, Guardiola was almost left speechless: "It's incredible. I don't have the words. 50 points at home, 50 points away. Incredible, incredible."
"When you get to 100 points, it's something special for all the club. It's a record which will stay for long.
City came up against a Southampton side needing a point to guarantee their own safety, but Swansea's 2-1 loss to Stoke ultimately kept the Saints up by three points.
Southampton tested City throughout at St Mary's Stadium, but ultimately succumbed to Jesus' lob at the death following Kevin De Bruyne's pinpoint ball forward.
"We did it all season - no surrender, no giving up. Trying till the end," Guardiola added. "Today was so difficult, it was so warm, they defended so well and had quick players in front.
"We had problems in the first half but the second was much better. At the end it was an excellent pass from Kevin and an amazing finish from Gabriel."
Asked what gave him the most satisfaction this season, Pep replied: "Numbers are numbers, but I think the way we played. We didn't play 38 games perfectly, but most of them we were so good, and most of the time we were better than our opponents.
"Every game you have to try and be better than your opponent - that's the only thing.
"When you score a lot of goals and concede few, 100 points, all the records we have broken, it was a consequence of the way we've played."
After City finish revelling in their record campaign, attentions will soon turn to whether they can repeat the feat.
And though Guardiola is eyeing a much-needed break, he concedes his City side may never reach the heights they did this season.
"We need holidays," he said. "We are going to lose next season. To compare with what we have done, we are going to lose. We cannot do better than this season.
"[We need] consistency as a team, to still be hungry, but I think it's going to happen, because I know all the players and all the staff.
"In [next] May, we have to be there, to try to fight for the titles."
