Guardiola amazed by Manchester City\'s response to European exit

SHOWS: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK (APRIL 24, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY COACH, PEP GUARDIOLA, SAYING: "I think that is the most difficult and most nice and most incredible detail for these players.

So, you cannot imagine, not the frustration, because of course Tottenham deserves all my respect and credit, but how tough it would be for all of us to go out of this beautiful competition like Champions League when we felt it was there.

You know, for one hand not given, for one inch, it was really, really tough.

And three days later we have Tottenham at home and it was not the best performance but the way, with the sunny sunshine, with incredible the warmth on the pitch, You know, to play to stay alive in the Premier League when Tottenham didn't play for almost anything because they are going to qualify for the Champions League, the pressure we felt and how we reacted, that is sometimes more important than all the other things you can read or you can write or you can say.

And after, to come here, our neighbours, United, the most prestigious team in England in the last 20 or 30 years and for the third time in a row we need to win and especially today with all the pressure that we had, because we know, if we lose, nothing and being there.

So, it's fantastic." STORY: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hailed his team for the way they have responded to the bitter blow of exiting from the Champions League with two crucial victories in their title bid.

City went out of the European competition on away goals to Tottenham Hotspur in dramatic fashion last week but dusted themselves off to beat Spurs in the Premier League on Saturday (April 20) before Wednesday's (April 24) 2-0 Manchester derby win over rivals United sent them top of the league, one point ahead of Liverpool with three matches left.

The win over United was the 11th straight in the league for City as they follow-up last season's record-breaking title win with another campaign of extraordinary quality and consistency.

As a remarkable Premier League title race heads into the final three games, with City enjoying a one point lead over Liverpool, who have lost just once this season, Guardiola said both teams would be worthy champions.

City's next task is an away game at Burnley on Sunday (April 28).

(Production: Jeff Pickett, Kurt Michael Hall)