BUSINESS AS USUAL
City surge clear
WATFORD ................. 1 MAN CITY ................. 2
Marching on: Riyad Mahrez is hailed after scoring City’s second at Vicarage Road last night
MANCHESTER City last night overcame a late fright to defeat Watford and surge five points clear at the top of Premier League.
But Pep Guardiola’s focus turned to UEFA afterwards when he called for clarity from European football’s governing body over their continuing investigation into the club following revelations about their finances.
Liverpool travel to Burnley tonight with a game in hand, yet Jurgen Klopp’s side know only a victory will do as they attempt to keep within touching distance of Guardiola’s pacesetters.
Despite resting Raheem Sterling and missing injured pair Kevin de Bruyne and Sergio Aguero, City took a two-goal lead through Leroy Sane and Riyad Mahrez — only for a late goal from Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucoure to set up a nerve-jangling finish.
Captain Vincent Kompany paid tribute to his side’s spirit, saying: ‘It was a good old Premier League game. As soon as they scored, long balls started coming. They are very physical up front. Credit to us for staying strong. You can’t win every game playing fantasy football.’
In the press conference, though, Guardiola’s mind was on weightier matters after UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin confirmed that what he described as ‘a concrete case’ was being investigated following revelations by Football
Leaks about City’s handling of the Financial Fair Play regulations.
City have previously been fined by UEFA for breaching FFP rules, but the new investigation could culminate in a ban from the Champions League in the worst-case scenario for the club.
Guardiola urged clarity and for an end to ‘the voices.’ The Catalan coach said: ‘UEFA is doing what it is doing and if they find something, the club will make a statement.
‘I’d like to do that, so we will know exactly when we are going to finish with the voices. If we did something regular, we will know it. If we didn’t do something regular, the people will finish talking about it so we will have to wait.
‘I trust a lot in my club, my organisation, and if something is wrong they are going to tell us.’
Guardiola, who insisted his players are not distracted by the furore, has further cause for anxiety over a muscular injury for Aguero.
The Argentinian did not play in last night’s victory or in the weekend win over Bournemouth and is now a major doubt for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea. His understudy Gabriel Jesus was much improved and created the second goal for Mahrez but also spurned a gilt-edged chance to put City into a three-goal lead.
‘On Aguero, I don’t know,’ said Guardiola. ‘The doctor is going to tell me soon hopefully. On Jesus, it is important he has chances. He created spaces. He does so many things for us, in pressing and helping. The most difficult thing is to put the ball in the net.’
However, this was another telling victory and a seventh win on the spin for Guardiola’s side.
Ben Foster made a string of saves to spare Watford a more comprehensive defeat, but was beaten just before the interval when a rebound from Sane was recycled out to Mahrez on the right. He sent in a teasing cross and Sane slipped behind Kiko Femenia before finishing with his chest.
Five minutes into the second half, slick passing on the left flank released Jesus and his cut-back left Mahrez with a simple finish.
Doucoure’s scrambled goal five minutes from time sent a tremor through City but they survived.
Watford keeper Foster said: ‘If we had put a chance away in the first half by Troy Deeney, it may have been a different game. I just have to pay credit to the lads but, fair play to City, they are just relentless. It’s not so nice to play against but it’s nice to watch.’
Watford boss Javi Gracia invoked London’s landmarks as he paid tribute to his keeper: ‘Ben Foster was great. When I came to London I thought Big Ben was in the city. But no, he is in Watford for us!’ WATFORD (4-4-2): Foster; Femenia, Kabasele, Cathcart, Holebas; Hughes (Quina 52), Chalobah (Deulofeu 63), Doucoure, Pereyra; Deeney, Success (Gray 75). Subs not used: Gomes, Mariappa, Wilmot, Masina. Booked: None. MAN CITY (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Kompany (Otamendi 83), Delph; Bernardo, Fernandinho, Silva (Gundogan 73); Mahrez, Jesus (Laporte 89), Sane. Subs not used: Muric, Danilo, Sterling, Foden. Booked: Ederson. Referee: Paul Tierney. Attendance: 20,389.