JUST BEHIND YOU, JURGEN But Pep warns of ‘relegation’ form
MANCHESTER CITY 3 ASTON VILLA 0
ANOTHER victory full of goals and sparkling football took Manchester City back to within three points of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.
Was manager Pep Guardiola a satisfied man? You must joking.
Pep the perfectionist was so fed up with City’s first-half performance that he warned his superstars they would slide towards the relegation zone if they play so poorly.
Second-half goals from Raheem Sterling, David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan, which eventually downed Aston Villa, were far from his thoughts.
“I am not concerned about the table and how many points we have,” said Guardiola ( left). “I am concerned about the way we play. If we play like in the first half, we will be in the relegation positions and far away from leading the table.
“Yes, we had a good 45 minutes in the second half, but we have to play for 90 minutes.
“We have to be aggressive. The only one in the first half was Raheem. He showed us how to play. I am so proud of him.”
Guardiola was less concerned about a late red card for Fernandinho, booked for a second time for a tactical foul.
He will miss only Tuesday’s Carabao Cup fourth-round tie at home against Southampton
Sterling was a constant threat throughout the game, raiding with dynamism and panache on the left flank and creating first-half chances for Gabriel Jesus and David Silva. Both times the shots flashed inches wide of the woodwork.
There had been much anticipation about whether Jack Grealish could make an impact against the champions after his fine start to the season, and E n g l a n d manager Gareth Southgate had come to have a look.
Grealish had a couple of incisive moments on the break, but was fortunate to escape a red card for a clear foul on Silva, having earlier been booked for dissent.
It was very similar to Fernandinho’s foul that brought his dismissal.
He suffered a calf injury to compound his woes on a miserable day. The best chance in the period for Villa fell to John when he intercepted a poor of defence by John Stones. brought a diving save from E Villa could not afford to sp moments.
It took just 23 from the start second half fo take the lead.
Inevitably, it Sterling, even i a route-one goa for a Guardiola t Ederson boote ball, Jesus beat Tyro in the air and his flick sen clear to slip the ball past ke Heaton.
Mings atoned slightly for with a remarkable clearanc