Pep Guardiola has warned his players about overconfidence after Manchester City became the first club to hit 29 league goals in their first eight league games since 1894 – the year that City were formed.
The Blues top the Premier League table with 22 points after seven wins and a draw in eight games – scoring 29 goals and letting in just four including a 7-2 win against Stoke City on Saturday.
Serie A league leaders Napoli will be the next team to visit the Etihad when Maurizio Sarri’s team will be City’s sternest test yet this season.
The Italians lead second placed Inter by two points after a perfect start left them top of the league with 24 points from eight straight wins with 26 goals scored and five conceded in Serie A.
Guardiola was at a loss as to what has clicked for City this season as so few personnel had changed since last season and the training principles hadn’t changed.
He explained that little details could change the outcome of games: “We are almost the same guys as last season but now we have the feeling we can score a goal.
“The principles are the same but last season we didn’t have the feeling we would score a goal.
“Now we’ve got it, we have the feeling. We will arrive and score goals. Of course it’s so important – we play to score goals.”
A win on Tuesday would leave City on the brink of qualification from their Champions League group and avoid pressurised and difficult away trips later this year.
Napoli will be Manchester City’s toughest test yet
Guardiola, who has already asked City fans to come support the team on Tuesday, explained he would be looking warning his team to take the Italians seriously.
He said: “I will show them [Napoli] to my players on Monday and Tuesday how good [they are] and to show them which game they are going to play. Of course if they are [overconfident] they are stupid.
“That’s not going to happen – it’s my target. I will show them like I did with Shakhtar Donetsk how good they are.
“They are quite similar to Shakhtar in the way they play but the difference is that Shakhtar maybe waits a little bit and Napoli kills you in the high press. They are able to press our keeper.
“I am very happy to have the opportunity to play this kind of game.”
“Right now, there is no doubt that Napoli are one of the best three teams in Europe today.” declared Guardiola who was careful not to apply the same tag to his own team, joking that: “It’s better that I don’t say that. They might become overconfident!”
“We are solid, when we work it happens for us. The players are [doing] outstanding performances and the mood in the locker room and training sessions is excellent.
“Of course winning games helps to create that but the guys that came like [Benjamin] Mendy, Bernardo [Silva], Kyle [Walker], and Danilo are exceptional guys.”