Guardiola drooling after De Bruyne inspires victory over Foxes
Pep Guardiola praised his Manchester City side for playing in exactly the way he wanted as they beat Leicester in some style. The Premier League champions overcame the setback of a Jamie Vardy breakaway goal to power to an impressive victory at the Etihad Stadium. Kevin De Bruyne was outstanding in all departments and pulled the strings as City hit back with goals from Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan – from the penalty spot – and Gabriel Jesus.
The victory brought City back within one point of the secondplaced Foxes.
Guardiola said: “Even before Vardy’s goal we were playing well.
“It was an incredible performance with and without the ball and we defended so high.
Having Vardy there is so dangerous, but were at a high level so I am so pleased.
“I am very pleased. I like to watch my team play in that way. When the team doesn’t follow the way I want to play I will leave. I hope in the future we can continue at this level.”
As well as setting up Jesus’ goal, De Bruyne hit the woodwork, forced two good saves from Kasper Schmeichel and created numerous other chances.
Guardiola said: “When we play that way we can increase the quality of our players like Kevin. He won the game against Arsenal on his own, but today it was a victory for the team.
“But in that position he is incredible. He was amazing.”
Mahrez and De Bruyne shone throughout, with the former having a shot blocked before teeing up the latter for the game’s first serious opportunity. The Belgian clipped a low effort against a post. Mahrez then had another shot deflected before setting up Gabriel Jesus for a close-range effort saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
City were punished after 22 minutes when Harvey Barnes picked out Vardy with a fine
through-ball. He raced past Fernandinho to take the ball into the box and he recovered from a heavy touch to lift his finish over Ederson.
The hosts responded as Mahrez found the net with a shot that took a deflection off Caglar Soyuncu. De Bruyne then forced a good save from Schmeichel with a ferocious strike from the edge of the box.
City went ahead two minutes before half-time after Raheem Sterling fell over Ricardo Pereira to win a penalty. Gundogan tucked away from the spot, but Ederson needed to push away a scuffed James Maddison effort. City started the second period well, with Sterling having a shot blocked and Mahrez putting a difficult half-volley wide. Mahrez tested Schmeichel with a fine strike from the edge of the box, but with 21 minutes to play, De Bruyne broke through the Foxes rearguard and Jesus could not miss at the far post.
Leicester’s defeat ended their 12-game unbeaten run, but boss Brendan Rodgers took encouragement from the fact his side remained above such an impressive team as City.
He said: “It shows how well we’ve done to be where we are. Against that level of opponent it was a good lesson for us.”