Manchester City Boss #Pep Guardiola has claimed the Manager of the Month award for September, as announced on Friday morning by the Premier League's official banking partners, Barclays.

The Spanish coach beat off competition from the likes of Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger and Mauricio Pochettino to scoop the honour, after a hugely impressive showing in September that saw the club win four games, scoring 17 goals and conceding none.

The rosy patch has propelled City to the top of the Premier League, with bitter rivals Manchester United breathing down their necks on goal difference - the Red Devils also enjoyed a fine September and also remain unbeaten so far this season.

It is only the second time Guardiola has claimed the Manager if the Month prize as City boss, the first of which came back in February of this year, and there is feeling this season that there could be more in the offing for him given the way the team has taken to his methods.

Guardiola edges it over nemesis Mourinho

The fact that he scooped the award over his old enemy Jose Mourinho will have made the occasion all the sweeter for Guardiola - the pair and their styles have always been compared to one another, and have been rivals since they managed Barcelona and Real Madrid over in La Liga.

There has been little to separate the two Manchester clubs so far this season, and although City sit top at the moment, United have looked just as impressive.

Perhaps a reason why Guardiola edged it over Mourinho is the notion that the Citizens have faced theoretically 'stronger' opposition so far in the league, with United to face their sternest test to date against bitter rivals Liverpool on Sunday.

Praise has been heaped onto the 46-year-old for the way he has drilled his passing methods into his team this season - no fewer than five of his first-team stars are in the top 20 for 'most passes' made in the division after seven games, four of whom (Fernandinho, David Silva, Nicolas Otamendi and Kevin de Bruyne) make the top 10.

Other Awards

As well as Guardiola scooping the managers' gong, Tottenham striker #Harry Kane won Player of the Month for September after plundering six goals in just four league appearances.

Kane, who had failed to score a single goal in August, as has been the strange case throughout the whole of his professional career so far, beat the likes of City's Sergio Aguero and De Bruyne, United's Romelu Lukaku, Brighton's Pascal Gross, Newcastle defender Jamaal Lascelles and Chelsea hitman Alvaro Morata to the prize.

It is the fifth of his career so far, which is bettered only by Steven Gerrard who has six to his name.

Antonio Valencia's thunderbolt against Everton earned him the prize for Goal of the Month for September - the Ecuadorian full-back opened the scoring against the Toffees at Old Trafford with a cracking half-volley that found the top corner.

Elsewhere, Liverpool starlet Harry Wilson continued to make him a name for himself by winning Player of the Month in the Premier League's youth competition.
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