Nico O'Reilly has answered a question about Man City that Pep Guardiola couldn't

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was in no mood to hang around in his press conference ahead of the trip to Fulham tonight.

The first part of Pep Guardiola's pre-Fulham press conference lasted just over two minutes before the embargoed section started. Approximately half of that time was taken up by Guardiola trying to understand a question asked by the first journalist invited to speak.

While it took time for Guardiola to fully understand the question, once it was posed, few expected Guardiola to dodge it in the manner he did. After realising the question was whether the City team of last season could have won the game against Leeds United on Saturday, he responded: "I don't know, I don't know.

"I am not able to know what happened or what would have happened. I don't know to be honest. It all depends on Phil putting the ball in the net. I don't define the mentality of the team on one win. I don't believe in these kinds of things."

His answer was very to the point, even by the Catalonian's standards. Away from the press conference, Nico O'Reilly had perhaps already answered the question Pep struggled with.

"We’re a very strong group. It feels a lot different to last season – we feel more as a group and more connected, and we feel better as a team on the pitch," he said. "We’re dominating games and it’s down to finishing games off and making sure we get the first goal."

This season, City's character has been tested from game-to-game. After defeat to Aston Villa in October, the Blues bounced back with important victories against Swansea City, Bournemouth, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool.

The manner in which City were able to regroup after such a poor second half to find the victory against Leeds shows how far the team has come this campaign. It might not have been pretty, but when we look back in May, it will only be the result that is remembered.

The result was made to look even better on Sunday when Arsenal were not able to capitalise against ten men and drew 1-1 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. If City win tonight, they move just two points behind the Gunners and before you know it, Mikel Arteta's side are starting to look over their shoulders.

Guardiola might not have wanted to answer the question on Monday afternoon but O'Reilly's comments have taken us close to it. This City group are showing a togetherness that suggests we can expect more results like the Leeds win in the weeks and months ahead.