Kyle Walker explains why Man City’s current winning streak is so impressive compared to previous seasons

Kyle Walker feels Manchester City’s current 12-game Premier League winning run is even more impressive given the difficult circumstances the club have faced this season.

The champions’ extended spell began with a 2-0 win at Old Trafford in November and could be increased further this weekend when Pep Guardiola’s men travel to face Southampton.

During that period, City, like most club’s in the top flight, have had fixtures impacted by Covid-19 and have also faced an outbreak among the squad. In addition, the Blues have had to contend with the tail end of their Champions League group-stage campaign.

It’s for that reason fixtures have really piled up over the usually action-packed festive period, and Walker highlighted this as the reason why City’s winning run is even more spectacular.

“It shouldn’t be tough [to set high standards] because you should set your own standards and should want to achieve those standards day in, day out,” the right-back told City’s club media.

“What I feel has become tough is the amount of games and the short breaks that we get to recover and put in a performance that we want. Three years ago, we were playing every Saturday and your body regenerates and you can rest, not just physically but mentally, and you go again.

“Now, with the fixtures, it is a little bit difficult not only to get your body prepared but your mind. You do get a little bit fatigued. It is full credit to everyone in here that helps us get to that stage on Saturday and be ready on game day.”

Pushing ahead of the competition

While City have excelled in recent weeks, their title rivals have endured some tough results. Chelsea, in particular, have stumbled in the race for first place and now look more likely to be in a top-four battle, but Liverpool have also dropped points against Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and Chelsea over Christmas and New Year.

Walker acknowledges there is some small fortune in the other sides slipping up, but he feels the standards set at Etihad over past seasons have helped push them ahead in the title battle.

“We just seem to go on a run when people seem to drop points,” said the 31-year-old. “Some people call it luck, but I don’t think you can have luck this many times throughout the number of seasons that I have been here.

“I feel it is the standards that we set ourselves as a team. We make sure that in each game we go out there and the minimum that we want is the three points. When we draw a game, the training ground for the next couple of days is down.”

Southampton a tough challenge

Walker is under no illusions as to how difficult Saturday’s clash at St Mary’s will be, and he feels Southampton have been City’s toughest opponent over recent years along with Liverpool.

“Recently, the results probably haven’t gone their way, but they have caused us problems over the last couple of years,” the England international explained.

“Like we have said in the meetings, probably them and Liverpool are the ones that have really caused us problems when it has come to playing them. It is going to be a tough game, especially going down there, the crowd are always loud and get behind them, every tackle, shot, good passage of play.

“We have to try and silence that. We have to go down there, play our game and take the form and momentum we have got over the last few weeks we have built up. Hopefully that will see us over the line for the all important three points where we can then enjoy a week off and relax.”