Pep Guardiola expressed amazement at the fact Sheffield United are bottom of the Premier League table after assessing Manchester City’s two meetings with Chris Wilder’s side this season.

Recognised as one of the finest coaches of his generation, Guardiola praised both Wilder’s strategic planning and the ability of the visiting players to execute the tactical plan their manager had devised following yesterday’s match at the Etihad Stadium; which City won 1-0.

After triumphing by the same scoreline at Bramall Lane earlier this term, the hosts recorded their 12th straight victory in all competitions courtesy of Gabriel Jesus’ 9th minute strike.

Despite averaging nearly two-and-a-half goals per game during that run, and scoring five against West Bromwich Albion who face United at Bramall Lane on Tuesday, City have struggled to translate possession into clear cut openings against Wilder’s men since their promotion to the top-flight two years ago; netting only three times against them during the previous campaign.

“When you see Sheffield United are bottom of the table, I think you realise just how hard this division is,” Guardiola said. “We knew this would be difficult, I told everyone beforehand. And you saw how difficult it was. You saw we were right. Their organisation and their approach is excellent. Really, I do not know why they are where they are.”

Speaking before the trip to the North-West, and following United’s victory over City’s neighbours Manchester United less than 72 hours earlier, Wilder revealed that Crystal Palace’s Roy Hodgson and Jose Mourinho of Tottenham Hotspur had also told him they are perplexed by the predicament his squad finds itself in.

United returned to South Yorkshire four points behind Sam Allardyce’s men, who remained in 19th place after a 2-2 draw with Fulham.

“We were alive in the last five minutes,” Guardiola said. “We had to be. I say the same about Sheffield. It was not necessary to see the victory at Old Trafford to realise the team was alive. What I saw out there was a team sticking together, fighting and complaining about decisions. When you see a team in that way, you believe, you know, it will be difficult.”