Man City will always be at their best, says Guardiola
Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, revealed his side still maintained their winning mentality, adding that they’re ready to forge ahead in the league.
Manchester City produced a ruthless attacking display to beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge and increase the pressure on Blues manager Frank Lampard.
The visitors, who were without a number of first-team players following an outbreak of coronavirus at the club, stunned Lampard’s side with three goals in the space of 16 first-half minutes.
Ilkay Gundogan’s crisp low finish broke the deadlock before Phil Foden doubled City’s lead three minutes later, tucking a superb first-time strike beyond Edouard Mendy after fine work from Kevin de Bruyne.
The Belgian then deservedly got his name on the scoresheet with a close-range finish after Raheem Sterling’s curling strike had rebounded off the woodwork.
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored in second-half stoppage time for Chelsea, firing Kai Havertz’s cross beyond Premier League debutant Zack Steffen.
The result lifts City up to fifth in the table, four points off Liverpool and Manchester United, and with a game in hand on both their rivals.
Chelsea, who would have gone top had they beaten Everton on 12 December, drop to eighth.
Speaking to Sky Sports: “They press and push in the first minutes we suffered a little bit because we didn’t concede almost anything except the goal in the last minute but we play really well. The result is excellent at Stamford Bridge but the way we play was really great you can’t win titles without playing like that.
“Chelsea one of the strongest teams they are suffering from last game but you see the quality of their players and the bench. We had a plan we tried to play like we have in the past and it worked. The players were excellent in every way, especially with the ball. We cannot play like other teams, we have to play in our rhythm and attack at the right moment. We won titles in that way, more patient. We missed a bit of this tempo and today we had it.
“We don’t have the physicality and quality of players to make quick transitions, maybe Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne but the others haven’t played with the ball. You create problems and that’s what we have to do. From the keeper to the striker we have to put the ball on the grass, make 1000 passes, and pick the right moment.”
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On if things have changed at City: “Same manager, same backroom staff, the players are the same and the ideas are completely the same. The way we won leagues and titles and other things is the way we played today. The tempo we have missed in the past, today we recovered it.”
On Phil Foden: “So proud – he never dropped one bit of his energy he can play upfront in all four positions. He has a sense of goal, he scored a fantastic goal. We rely on him incredibly, for England and the national team, he will be a top player because he’s so clever and calm. He made another great performance.”