Manchester City Pep Guardiola was ‘really pleased’ with his side’s resilience following their 3-1 come-from-behind victory over Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday..
The champions’ struggles appeared to persist early on when a mistake by debutant Abdukodir Khusanov allowed Noni Madueke to score for Chelsea within the opening three minutes. However, Josko Gvardiol leveled the score late in the first half, and Guardiola’s men dominated proceedings in the second half.
Erling Haaland’s cheeky lob over Robert Sanchez in the 68th minute made it 2-1 before Phil Foden sealed the win with his 87th minute strike.
The victory propelled City to fourth on the Premier League table, boosting their hopes of securing Champions League qualification. Speaking after the game, Guardiola expressed delight, attributing the Cityzens’ win to their control in possession.
“We have struggled lately, and it has been a tough, tough season. Most players have been here eight or nine years, and I am not going to change my opinion in two months,” Guardiola told BBC Match of the Day.
“We have to realise it is not enough, what we are doing. I asked them to step up and we did it. We created enough chances to score goals and, in the end, I am really pleased.
“Emotionally, they came back incredibly well. Chelsea, we know the talent they have – it was really good. We were tired because we have an old team.
“We have had a tough period because playing Ipswich and then three days ago in Paris, it was really tough for us physically.”
“If we don’t pass the ball, we are one of the worst teams. We need the ball to survive.”
Guardiola expressed confidence in Khusanov’s potential to succeed in the Premier League despite a difficult debut. The 20-year-old’s poor header contributed to Noni Madueke’s opener. He also received a yellow card in the fourth minute for bringing down Cole Palmer after initially giving the ball away.
The former RC Lens defender was eventually brought off in the 54th minute but Guardiola explained that the substitution was a move to protect Khusanov from getting a red card.
“It was not the best start. He knows it, but he will learn. He is so young. He will learn in the future,” Guardiola said.
“His substitution was for the yellow card. John was coming back from an injury. When John arrived here, he struggled in his first season.”
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
