Manchester City are closer than ever to grabbing the top spot in the Premier League after their latest outing, which saw them thrash Crystal Palace 3 - 0 away from home.
Manchester City are closer than ever to grabbing the top spot in the Premier League after their latest outing, which saw them thrash Crystal Palace 3 - 0 away from home.
The Citizens’ talismanic striker, Erling Haaland, bagged a brace on either side of a Phil Foden strike in their most dominant away performance this season. The win saw them keep pace with Arsenal, who currently lead the race with a two-point difference.
It was a fourth-straight win in the Premier League for City, which also made it special, as the club had been unable to achieve this feat this season until Sunday. Manager Pep Guardiola was very happy with the outcome and described it as a statement win.
“It was difficult today, and ‘ruthless’ is the word. It’s been a lot of work,” Pep declared. “They [Palace] are so strong. Every time we play against them, it’s so difficult—their physicality, and they’re a transitional team, and they defend so well.
“A really difficult game, and we knew it [would be] after a tough game emotionally in Madrid. Really pleased for many things that are going to happen inside the locker room.”
Pep Guardiola then spoke briefly about some improvements that his team needs to make to be able to stay in the title races this season.
“There are many things we have to improve, but in Madrid they gave me a lot of signals that still we are not ready in terms of how we have to approach certain games,” the Premier League's second-longest-serving manager said.
“They are young, some players, but of course we are really pleased because I know how tough they are, and to win 3-0 here is a good statement from us.”
Man City’s next challenge is Brentford in the EFL (Carabao) Cup, and the gaffer recognizes that it will be a tough outing.
“Be yourself; it’s not about winning or losing,” Pep stressed. “Always when you approach the game, whatever happens, whoever the opponents, in those terms, just good things are going to happen.
“It makes no sense to play football without being who you are as an individual player or as a team.
“Still, we are not on top, but we are learning, and after what happened, we will be closer in the future.
“[After playing] in the Bernabeu, [we were] calm and had one training session and prepared the team for the last FA Cup winners and being in an incredible [opponent].
“Not just for the results, because the results are a consequence of what Oliver and his people are doing.
“So it’s really good, and now we have two more games, a long week to Christmas time, and we have to try to reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and then West Ham before that.”
