Pep salutes City stars

London, Aug. 13: Pep Guardiola saluted Manchester City’s stars for shaking off their World Cup fatigue as the champions made a flying start to the Premier League campaign with a 20 win against Arsenal.

Guardiola’s side featured a host of players who told the City boss they were ready to play at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday despite their draining World Cup duty in Russia.

Several, including England stars Raheem Sterling, Kyle Walker and John Stones, cut short their holidays to get back into training with City.

And, despite just a week of sessions on the practice pitch, City picked up where they left off last term with a confident display that easily put Arsenal to the sword.

Raheem Sterling opened the scoring with a cool finish early in the first half before Bernardo Silva lashed in City’s second after the interval, leaving Guardiola to sing the champions’ praises.

“We played a high level considering the lack of physical condition for many of the players who arrived back late after the World Cup,” he said.

City look as hungry as ever despite their recordbreaking success last season, when they won the title with a record 100 points and also lifted the League Cup.

Installed as heavy favourites to finish top again — which would make them the first team to defend the title since Manchester United in 2008-09 — City’s ruthless performance was ominous for their rivals.

It was a chastening introduction to the Premier League for new Arsenal manager Unai Emery, who has replaced Arsene Wenger following the Frenchman’s 22-year reign.

Wenger left Arsenal in a mess after last season’s sixth place finish and Emery acknowledged the gulf in class between City and his team showed how much work he could do.

“We needed more but I am happy with the players, they run and fight,” Emery said.