Wilshere has a day to forget as City put on a four-star show
MANCHESTER CITY’s hierarchy bided their time and waited for Pep Guardiola to become their manager.
On this early evidence, it was well worth the wait.
The plan was to bring his Barcelona-style football to Manchester, and even though the season is barely a month old, Guardiola is sprinkling that magic over his new team.
This was a masterclass as City ripped into Bournemouth from all angles with speed and creativity. And Eddie Howe’s side won’t be the last this season to be on the receiving end.
It is now five straight League wins and eight in all competitions as City have made their best ever start to a season and laid down a marker to the rest of the Premier League.
Of course, they began last season with five straight League wins under Manuel Pellegrini before things started to unravel. Somehow, you don’t have the same feeling about this campaign.
But Guardiola was quick not to get too carried away afterwards.
“I have to recognise that I’m very happy, but I know we are going to lose a match,” he said.
“People have said very nice things, but I know how the world works and how trainers get so criticised when you don’t win.
“There are still lots of things to improve upon. But everything starts with the humble attitude of being the smallest team in the world trying to win.
“I am not going to accept that things are too easy. We’re only in September.”
Guardiola’s team have set their stall out to press the opposition high up the pitch, and that was evident straight from the off.
Simon Francis’ clearance was charged down by Kelechi Iheanacho, and Kevin de Bruyne was onto the loose ball in a flash, testing Artur Boruc with a shot from outside the area with barely 10 seconds gone.
But De Bruyne didn’t need to wait too long before he did beat Boruc, and it was a bad moment for Jack Wilshere. The on-loan Gunner was making his first start and had struggled to get on the ball in those early stages.
When he did, he was robbed by Fernandinho, and he then gave away a foul in an attempt to redeem his mistake.
He was then part of the Bournemouth wall that all jumped and watched as De Bruyne’s freekick went under them and left Boruc unsighted.
And Howe later admitted it was a difficult day for Wilshere.
“We want to see Jack in the final third, but we didn’t get there enough,” he said. “The minutes will do him good, but it was impossible to see his best qualities.”
Another goal looked on the cards for City, and it arrived after the Cherries had won a free-kick in a dangerous position.
The ball was headed clear, and City launched a devastating counter-attack with the ball worked at blistering speed to De Bruyne.
He released Raheem Sterling, who could have gone for goal, but he squared it to Iheanacho, who had an empty net for a tap-in.
If it wasn’t already, the game was put beyond the visitors shortly after half-time thanks to another goal that began deep within City territory. Manuel Nolito sent the ball up to Iheanacho, who held it up before laying it back to De Bruyne. The Belgian returned the favour, and Iheanacho did the same for Sterling, who rolled it into the net with ease.
Sterling nearly had another, but was denied by a brilliant save from Boruc and then a post after a brilliant, mazy dribble.
But the fourth wasn’t far away, and it was maybe the best of the lot. More slick play put De Bruyne in space, and his pass sliced opened the defence, allowing IIkay Gundogan to stroke the ball home on his Premier League debut.
Substitute Callum Wilson nearly grabbed a late consolation when he struck the underside of the bar, and City ended the game with ten men as Nolito was sent off.
The little Spaniard reacted angrily towards Adam Smith after the ball had gone out of play and put his head towards the Bournemouth full-back.
Contact appeared minimal, but referee Jon Moss had no doubts and produced a straight red for Nolito and a booking for Smith.
It was a needless end to a fantastic afternoon for City.
MATCH STATS
64 Possession 36 12 Shots on target 2 8 Shots off target 4 5 Corners 5 1 Offside 2 7 Fouls 11 1 Cautions 1 1 Sending-offs 0
JON MOSS wouldn’t have expected to produce a red card for City when they were so dominant.