HUDDERSFIELD -- Pep Guardiola says he took as much pleasure from Manchester City's battling 2-1 victory over Huddersfield Town as he did from their big victories this season.
City fell behind for only the third time this season when Nicolas Otamendi deflected in a header on the stroke of half-time.
But they were level two minutes after the restart through Sergio Aguero's penalty before Raheem Sterling snatched a win in the 84th minute to maintain City's eight-point lead at the top.
Asked if he enjoyed the win as much as the 6-0 victory over Watford, Guardiola told a news conference: "Definitely, definitely, more than winning 4-0, the same words I said in locker room after the game.
"We need to win in these kind of games in that way. That, maybe that will convince more, that we are able to do that wherever.
"In the high level of sport, when you are one week rest, you have to prepare in the good moments, okay you can score goals. But normally that can happen a lot of times. I cannot remember one team -- [Manchester] United with Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsenal with Arsene Wenger -- win all the leagues, all the time, four or five.
"You have to suffer, you have to live that, in the last period last month, we did not feel that, and that is why it's so important. To live that situation and be able to win the game. Because, again, we make an outstanding performance in all senses."
It was the first time that City had won a Premier League game after being behind at half-time since April 1995.
Sterling's winner was slightly fortunate with the ball rebounding off his knee after Huddersfield keeper saved from Jonas Lossl.
It took his tally to 12 over all competitions for the season -- his best ever goal tally already -- and meant he has won City seven points in the Champions League and Premier League with goals in the last 10 minutes of consecutive matches.
"He is young, can still can improve, he made a big gap, he is winning games, now he's a winning player," Guardiola added. "Before he make good actions but now he is able to make winning games.
"We are in November, he has already broken his record, so that is top. But not just in terms of goals, and how he is now strong, keeping the ball, before he would lose a lot of balls, now he is keeping the situation much much better, one against one, provoke fouls: The penalty is more than clear.
"I am impressed but still he's 22, still he can a lot of things improve. If he wants to learn, we will be there to help him."
Sterling was brought down by Christopher Schindler for the penalty and Huddersfield boss David Wagner had no complaints about the decision.
The German, however, didn't see the incident at the full-time whistle when Rajiv van La Parra was sent off for his role in a clash with Leroy Sane, instead wanting to concentrate on the positives from his side's performance.
"I think the players have done everything to get a draw, they were solid and focused," he said. "Unfortunately we were not able to get over the line. Manchester City is a top team.
"We have played 13 games in the Premier League and have proved we are competitive. I take a lot of positives, it is unfortunate about the result."