Pep Guardiola hailed the significance of Manchester City's Premier League win over Leicester as it temporarily moved the Blues top of the Premier League.
In a tight game of few openings, City took three points from the King Power Stadium thanks to Kevin De Bruyne's brilliant free-kick at the start of the second half. Leicester had some late chances to equalise, but City held on to move above Arsenal in the table ahead of the Gunners' game with Nottingham Forest on Sunday, where they can return to first place with a win.
It's the first time since the second weekend of the season that City have been in first after a game, and that was a significant moment for Guardiola, who said he will 'sleep well' being top of the league.
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City lined up in a Premier League fixture without Erling Haaland for the first time due to injury, and struggled to get through Leicester's tight defence in the first half. Even after De Bruyne's goal, the Blues didn't create too many chances, although Guardiola said the attitude of his players was perfect for the opponent.
"Nobody knows what would have happened with Erling Haaland," Guardiola began. "Erling Haaland played against Bournemouth in the shape that Leicester played with five in the back, four in the build-up plus [Jamie] Vardy dropping and he's struggled. It's difficult. The best I can say is don't get frustrated when you go and attack and don't be in the position where you need to be.
"If you concede transitions with [Harvey] Barnes, Vardy, [James] Maddison and after you concede a goal it is a hill to climb that would not be possible so don't get frustrated and don't concede free-kicks and corners. We started really well in the first half because we needed a lot of runners, a lot of movements for the second position and we don't have the specific quality right now for that concept but we started really well in the second half with Rodri and the free-kick.
"After that, we had doubts - we continued to attack and be aggressive or they don't want to play or press, ok, but in the last 10-15 minutes with Kelechi [Iheanacho] and [Patson] Daka inside they changed the rhythm and we were playing a rhythm that was not good.
"We won but maybe one corner or free-kick or one situation and you can draw the game. We defend well in general and a massive victory because Leicester away is always tough, we arrive back in the best moment for them and we sleep tonight on top of the league."
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