If Manchester City answered questions about a lack of goals at one end of the pitch, now they can enjoy discussing a shortage of them at the other.
Saturday’s 5-0 win over Burnley meant the focus shifted from a previously and uncharacteristically goal-shy attack to an increasingly parsimonious defence.
After Pep Guardiola suffered the historic low of seeing one of his teams conceding five goals for the first time, courtesy of Leicester, City have only been breached six times in 12 games.
They face Porto on Tuesday with the joint best defensive record in the Champions League; only the Portuguese champions Luis Diaz has scored against them in Europe.
“Our defence is more consistent now,” said goalkeeper Ederson. “We are developing little by little. It doesn’t happen from one day to the other. It requires time. We have more players and less injuries than last season.”
The contrast with then, when a midfielder did a valiant job as a makeshift defender, is marked. “We know that when one or two centre-backs get injured and Fernandinho needs to play there it makes things more difficult,” said Ederson. “Now we have two centre-backs there.”
The arrivals of Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias have created strength in depth with the latter making a particularly positive impression. “Ruben gave us a lot of solidity,” Guardiola added.
If a newcomer represents the headline act at the back, there have been supporting turns by three enjoying a personal renaissance. John Stones had his toughest season in Manchester last year, was injured in autumn and then displaced by the partnership of Aymeric Laporte and Dias. But he has excelled against Olympiakos and Burnley in the last week.
“After five seasons together we know each other incredibly well and it depends on John,” Guardiola said. “We know he has incredible skills and it depends on him to maintain this level. Players need continuity of being fit and John unfortunately could not [have that] for different reasons.
"In the last two games he played well and we are delighted for him. He is a special guy and so sensitive.”
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Player ratings for City v Burnley
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MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 7. Impressive alertness to beat Wood to a through-ball – then not handle outside his box – given how underemployed he was in the first half. Smart save from Rodriguez in the second. Reuters -
Kyle Walker - 8. Linked up adroitly with Mahrez, particularly with his clever throw for the Algerian’s second goal, and was always willing to add his pace to the attack. EPA -
Ruben Dias - 6. Had very little to do at the back as City totally dominated the ball. Getty -
John Stones - 7. Was able to cruise through on a rare start, as Burnley’s forwards saw little of the ball. Might have been eying a goal at one point, but missed out. Getty -
Benjamin Mendy - 7. Overcooked a number of crossing chances, but dispatched his goal crisply on the volley from De Bruyne’s lofted pass. Amazingly, seeing as he hadn’t scored in three years. PA -
Ilkay Gundogan - 7. The beating pulse of his team, as he kept them moving throughout. Nothing spectacular, but he played a key part in the opener. AFP -
Rodri - 6. His passing was not as ambitious as it could have been as City dominated the half he was on for. Might have been glad for a break, and was replaced by Fernandinho at the break. AFP -
Kevin De Bruyne - 8. Assists for the first and third goals, and played a fine incisive pass that set up the crossing chance from which Mahrez headed in his hat-trick. Getty -
Ferran Torres -7. Could have had a goal before Mahrez’s early opener, but blazed wide. Nipped in with his first Premier League goal just before he was substituted, to cap a sparkling City attack. Getty -
Riyad Mahrez - 9. The Algeria captain was keyed in right from the first whistle, and struck his first hat-trick for City with two sweet left footed finishes and a header. EPA -
Gabriel Jesus - 8. Went looking for work in deeper positions, and was single-minded in pursuit of a goal with a dribble and shot at the end of the first half, but it went high and wide. AP -
SUBS: Fernandinho - (On for Rodri 46') 6. Only had to stroll through the game after coming on for Rodri at the break. Had a headed chance that went over. Reuters -
Phil Foden - (On for Torres 67') 7. Set up Mahrez with his first involvement in the game after coming on for Torres, with an inch-perfect cross. AFP -
BURNLEY RATINGS: Bailey Peacock-Farrell - 4. Might have conceded two own goals, but had his blushes spared twice by the offside flag. It was still a chastening first Premier League start for the 24-year-old keeper. AFP -
Matthew Lowton - 5. Imprecise header back to his goalkeeper put his side under pressure after they were enjoying a bright spell at the start of the second half. Thwarted Jesus on the ensuing move, though. AFP -
Ben Mee - 5. Slow to react to Walker’s throw for City’s second, and must have felt like he was under assault for the rest of the game. Reuters -
James Tarkowski - 5. His cheap giveaway led to the opening goal for Mahrez. The floodgates were open from that point on. EPA -
Charlie Taylor (No live images from game) - 4. Had his work cut out against an in-the-mood Mahrez. He had no excuse when he was caught napping with Walker’s quick throw for Mahrez’s second. Getty -
Ashley Westwood - 5. Anonymous in open play, and did not have much joy from the set pieces that should have been the away side’s best chance for some cheer. AFP -
Josh Benson - 7. Had a baptism of fire in his Premier League debut, as Burnley were overrun, but had his highlights, too, like when he went close with a free kick. Reuters -
Jay Rodriguez (No live images from game) - 5. Afforded precious little opportunity to attack, and occasionally looked lost with his defensive brief from right-midfield. AP -
Ashley Barnes - 6. Only had a meagre pickings to deal with, and was unable to turn any of those into anything productive. AFP -
Dwight McNeil - 6. Spent most of his time attempting to check Walker’s buccaneering runs, which can’t have been much fun. At least he got one chance to have a dart at goal, but his long-range effort drifted over. Getty -
Chris Wood - 5. Frustrated by a lack of supply, and then, when he did get a chance to attack, had drifted offside anyway. AFP -
SUBS: Erik Pieters - 6. Got some game time when he came on for Wood, but had minimal impact. Matej Vydra - NA. On for Barnes for the last 10 minutes, but scarcely saw the ball – much like his colleagues for the rest of the 90 minutes. AP
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Benjamin Mendy has also emerged from the shadows for the last two games. The injury-hit left-back belatedly opened his City account against Burnley but Guardiola said: “To score a goal is the last thing I want from him. I want him to defend well and be fit and focused. It depends on him, the same as with John.”
If Mendy now seems the second-choice left-back, it is a reflection of how well the right-footer Joao Cancelo has done on his less favoured flank. “Joao has made an incredible impact this season, especially with his commitment,” Guardiola added.
“His physicality is outstanding and he helped us a lot. His quality is something unique because he can be like a winger in the final third. Like Mendy, [he must] just focus on defence and we are working on it.”
Cancelo, Dias and Ederson, as three former Benfica players, may have a particular motivation to beat Porto, but City, who have already booked their place in the last 16, want to win the group.
Guardiola has ruled out promoting some academy prospects tonight. “We have 19 first-team players fit and all of them travel,” he said. Sergio Aguero is not among them: the Argentinian did not train on Monday because of a minor knee problem
In his absence, Ederson, who used to take some set-pieces, jokingly offered his services as a potential scorer. “When I played for Ribeirao, I took some free kicks but that is in the past now,” he said. “I am the best penalty taker [at City] but I am not chosen to take them.”
