Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City won the Premier League because they consistently beat teams like Crystal Palace, Brentford, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Newcastle and Everton. Arsenal won the Premier League because they managed to do the same, even though they dropped points against their direct title rivals. Barcelona won La Liga last season for the same reason. They consistently beat teams like Levante, Espanyol, Celta, Athletic Bilbao and Betis, as well as picking up wins away against Villarreal, Elche, Getafe and Osasuna. They did all this despite losing to their direct rivals during the season. By the time the return fixture came around, the title race was already decided. That’s how you win leagues: through consistency, mentality and the ability to collect points week after week, especially against the teams you’re expected to beat. It’s not just about proving yourself against the biggest opponents. This constant attempt to downplay Barcelona’s winning streaks and big victories in La Liga is getting ridiculous. The funny thing is that those making these arguments would love to see their own teams win games consistently and by big margins. But instead of acknowledging what Barcelona are doing, they take the easier route and try to diminish it.