BRIGHT Pep gets flyer to AND ERLI
AFTER the bonhomie and bromance it was back to bitter reality for Roberto De Zerbi as the Treble winners survived a late scare to bounce back from a two-game losing run.
In the build-up, Pep Guardiola had championed the Italian as a possible successor as Manchester City manager.
Before kick-off there were hugs and an amicable chat but on the field Guardiola makes sure no bouquets are handed out by his ruthless side.
Within 17 minutes they were 2-0 up with flying winger Jeremy Doku causing carnage down City’s left flank leaving the returning James Milner wishing his recent injury absence could have been prolonged.
Doku had just fired wide after a gliding Phil Foden run before he went on his own adventurous sortie, slaloming to the byline before cutting back for Julian Alvarez to make it 17 goals from 17 starts at The Etihad.
Then when Carlos Baleba hesitated at a Brighton throw-in, Bernardo Silva nipped in and set up Erling Haaland who accelerated to the edge of the area before exploding a low left-footer past Jason Steele.
Not exactly the best presentation from De Zerbi to set before his future potential employers, especially the decision to leave the veteran Milner at the mercy of a razor-sharp Doku for 45 minutes while Solly March, shunted into an emergency left-back role, didn’t fare much better.
It was City’s 21st straight home win in all competitions, a record for a Premier League side, overhauling neighbours Manchester United.
The biggest danger to City was complacency and slackness at the back let in Pascal Gross who should have done better in the 52nd minute than find the side netting from 12 yards.
And Stefan Ortega, starting his first Premier League game of the season with Ederson on the bench after two games for Brazil, had to halt a surging run from the dangerous Kaoru Mitoma.
Brighton gave themselves hope with a 73rd-minute goal which arrived on the back of a City attack.
Lewis Dunk had stopped an Alvarez attempt in the six-yard box before setting up an attack, inevitably involving Mitoma. When the winger’s cross was only half-cleared by Manuel Akanji sub Ansu Fati pounced.
Suddenly there was a nervy finale leaving Guardiola kneeling down in the technical area wondering why his side
By John Richardson
had gone off the boil. And the tension increased when Akanji pulled down Fati to collect his second yellow card leaving the home side down to 10 men for four minutes of added time.
The biggest cheer was reserved for Ortega hanging onto a last-gasp Brighton cross.
Cue more hugs for the two managers after the final whistle.