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Gundogan goals good for City but Guardiola worry over penalty

 

Pep Guardiola said he will address Manchester City’s problems from the penalty spot despite Rodrigo scoring in a 3-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday to open up a seven-point lead at the top of the table.

The in-form Ilkay Gundogan also scored twice before hobbling off with a groin injury that will concern City just 11 days before their return to Champions League action against Borussia Monchengladbach.

Guardiola is already turning his attention to European competition and is wary that City’s dismal penalty record will cost them when the fine margins matter most in a Champions League knockout tie.

Rodrigo — who had not scored for nearly a year — took responsibility after Gundogan and Raheem Sterling missed spot-kicks in recent weeks.

Hugo Lloris should have saved the Spanish midfielder’s effort as the French goalkeeper got a hand to it.

“I admire and love the courage to take it,” said Guardiola. “But the taker was not good, we were lucky.”

Guardiola has speculated that goalkeeper Ederson could take over penalty duties and said his stunning long pass to set up Gundogan’s second goal shows why.

“If he can play that pass from 70 yards he can shoot from 12. His quality of the shot is good,” added Guardiola. “The Champions League is coming and when you miss it is so hard.”

Victory for City stretched their record-breaking winning run for an English top-flight team to 16 in all competitions.

Read AlsoEPL: Man City thrash Tottenham to go seven points clear

Guardiola’s men have a game in hand on second-placed Leicester and move eight ahead of Manchester United, who are in action away to West Brom on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

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