Champions League: City’s Guardiola eyes consistency after Marseille victory
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said that the side will continue to look for consistency following a 3-0 win over Marseille in their Champions League group stage fixture on Tuesday.
The English side, who have never reached the semi-finals under Pep Guardiola, sit top of the early Group C table after their opening victory at Porto last week.
The City boss said that his side have to accept recent criticism after only winning two of their five Premier League matches so far this season, but that he was confident they can put together a strong run after their performance at the Stade Velodrome.
“Part of the criticism was right, but you’ve got to accept it. It’s part of our job,” Guardiola told BT Sport and was quoted saying by the AFP. “It’s about where we’ve come from in the last month, with lack of preparation, injuries and Covid-19, but the Champions League is in a good place now. I’m sure we’re going to find that consistency… I’m so satisfied with the way we played.”
With Kevin De Bruyne running the show in midfield on his first start since returning from injury, City cruised past a largely ineffective Marseille.
City started with Ferran Torres up front in the absence of injured duo Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus.
The visitors dominated the early stages without creating many clear-cut chances, but were handed the opening goal in the 18th minute.
Marseille midfielder Valentin Rongier’s dreadful pass put De Bruyne in the clear, and the Belgian squared for Torres to slot in his third City goal since signing from Valencia.
City appeared likely to win without any help from their opponents, but Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi contrived to lose the ball inside his own area and was fortunate to see Oleksandr Zinchenko’s effort clip the base of the post.
The home side were much improved after the interval, though, and City goalkeeper Ederson was lucky to fumble a long-range strike from Thauvin onto his post and behind but any hopes of a push for a late OM equaliser were put to bed 14 minutes from time.
Phil Foden stood a high ball up to the back post which Raheem Sterling nodded down for Ilkay Gundogan to score. It was not long before De Bruyne collected his second assist of the game, as his low pass was tapped home by Sterling.
Readmore