PARKER: CITY’S QUALITY JUST TOO GOOD

SCOTT Parker admitted the quality levels between City and Bournemouth were just too high in Saturday’s 4-0 defeat, pointing towards the magic in the Blues’ opening two goals as prime examples.

City picked up where they left off in May at the Etihad, with Ilkay Gundogan scoring. With one of his two passes in the game, Erling Haaland played an excellent one-two to send the German through on goal.

Kevin de Bruyne then added the second with a stunning outside-of-theboot strike from the edge of the box. Phil Foden and an own-goal from Jefferson Lerma rounded off the scoring. “That’s exactly it,” he said in reference to the quality of the goals and how City can punish you so quickly. “At times the levels and the quality was there for everyone to see.

“That’s what happens when you’re playing against a world-class team and world-class players really.

“We had our tiny little moments and then they punish you with individual brilliance.

“I thought to a man my players gave everything they could give, left everything out there, the difference was the qualities and levels were just too good.”

Despite a 4-0 thrashing, Parker isn’t too worried about the result. He added: “Many managers have probably sat here after a game playing against Man City and the quality that they possess. We’ve played against a world-class team that can execute in any given moment,” he said.

“They limit your chances and you’re going to have to be clinical.

“We didn’t manage to do that. And then obviously their quality shone through really.”