Guardiola says City can still improve after rout
manchester city 5
Pep Guardiola called for his Manchester City side to be even more clinical after thrashing Burnley at the Etihad Stadium.
The Premier League champions eased to victory with goals from Sergio Aguero, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Riyad Mahrez and Leroy Sane but, with only one coming in the first half, Guardiola felt there was room for improvement.
The City boss said: “We had 24 shots – 10 on target. So, we are the best side in Europe in shots, but we have to increase our ‘on-target tally’. In the first half, it was just 1-0 and we created enough chances to score more goals.
“In the second half we produced a good performance.
“All the players produced a good performance, especially John Stones, playing in a position that is not natural for him in the absence of Kyle Walker. Fernandinho made an extraordinary performance, too.”
Guardiola also praised record signing Mahrez, who produced the perfect response to his costly late penalty miss in the goalless draw at Liverpool a fortnight ago.
He said: “He played so good at Anfield – that’s why I decided to play him again. He is a talented player and a guy who likes to play.
“In the box he is a dangerous guy because he can go to the byline or score with his left or his right. He is a good signing for us.”
Guardiola confirmed right-back Walker missed the game as a precaution after returning from international duty with England carrying a groin problem.
The former Manchester City goalkeeper, Joe Hart, endured a difficult return, but earned a standing ovation and made a series of saves.
Hart could do nothing to prevent Aguero opening the scoring after 17 minutes, though.
The Burnley defence could not contain the intricate play of Sane and David Silva and Aguero finished clinically after being picked out unmarked at the back post.
Burnley threatened when Jeff Hendrick had an effort blocked by Stones and Johann Berg Gudmundsson curled a good attempt wide.
Hart prevented City doubling their lead, before the interval with a fine one-handed save from a David Silva header and then got lucky as Aguero blasted the rebound wide.
That miss hardly mattered as City made the game safe with goals in the 54th and 56th minutes. Burnley contributed to their own downfall as they stopped to protest about a non-existent penalty award after Sane was clipped by Jack Cork. Referee Jonathan Moss waved play on, but Burnley misread the situation and were punished as David Silva pulled back for Bernardo Silva to sweep in.
Moments later, the result was put beyond doubt as Matt Lowton’s clearance from a corner was thumped back into the top corner of the net by Fernandinho.
Kevin De Bruyne came on soon after and City refused to ease up. Hart saved from Mahrez and Aguero, before Mahrez curled in a fine effort.
Sane applied further gloss to the scoreline when he clipped past Hart in the last minute.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche voiced some complaints after the game, starting with referee Jonathan Moss’ decision not to send off City captain Vincent Kompany for a bad tackle on Aaron Lennon in the first minute.
Dyche said: “I prefer red cards not to be given, but that was a red card. He was out of control, he doesn’t know where the man is or the ball is. It was a throw of the leg and it was high on his thigh. It was not vicious but there was no control in the challenge.”
Dyche was also frustrated about the build-up to City’s second goal, which saw Sane denied a penalty, before David Silva pulled the ball back for Bernardo Silva to score.
Burnley’s defenders initially stopped in a mistaken assumption Sane had won a penalty, and then they felt the ball had gone out of play before David Silva played on.
Dyche said: “There are so many different things. Sane goes down with the tiniest of touches and our players are responding to that, feeling he has gone down far too easily.
“The ref is going to blow his whistle and then decided not to. In the meantime, a player who was off the pitch walks back on the pitch to get the ball that’s off the pitch and deliver a cross that they score from. If that’s not confusing for everyone in the stadium, it’s certainly confusing for me.
“I’ve seen it back. With the best view we can get of it, the ball was out of play.
“But you have to stay focused and remonstrate afterwards and they are a top side. Nothing I am saying remotely says we would have won if this had gone for us.”
Dyche also felt Sane should have been sent off late on. He said: “Sane has to be a red card for kicking Lowton for no reason at all, just smashed him around the legs.”