PEP ALWAYS KNOWS BEST
Haaland only scores one goal this time but it’s yet another stroll... is this Guardiola’s best ever Manchester City team?
ERLING HAALAND scored again, of course he did, but this was an afternoon to reflect on the overall strength of arguably Pep Guardiola’s greatest Manchester City team.
Joao Cancelo, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez had all registered before Haaland enjoyed his customary moment after 65 minutes, belting a first-time finish past Ireland keeper Gavin Bazunu for his 20th club goal of the season.
It was the 10th consecutive City game in which the Norwegian has netted though it ended a run of three home Premier league hattricks. No wonder his manager joked afterwards: ‘I am so upset with him — he didn’t score three goals. That is why there is a petition to sack him from the Premier League!’
Poor Southampton, whose slide towards the relegation zone continues unabated to heap more pressure on manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.
They didn’t muster a shot on target and even when the excellent Foden retired after an hour, £100million man Jack Grealish was sent on in his place. ‘It was tough against a complete team. We weren’t nasty enough,’ said the Saints boss with a grimace.
It wasn’t too long ago that Guardiola was regularly quizzed about how he would replace the legends Kompany, Silva, Toure and Aguero.
But Pep always knows best, including yesterday. With Kyle Walker injured, he pulled a surprise to use central defender Manuel Akanji at right-back.
The gamble allowed Cancelo to remain on the left and the Portuguese international was man-of-the-match with a barnstorming performance, including the first goal.
‘We are scoring a lot and you do that because you are playing more than decent,’ said the City manager. ‘It was a good performance against a team we have struggled against in the past.’
Southampton’s only hope was recent history. City failed to beat them in the league last season.
It didn’t matter this time. Goalkeeper Bazunu, who left City for the south coast last summer, produced the first of many saves from Riyad Mahrez in the opening seconds. There were audible gasps when Haaland raced on to Foden’s pass and hit the inside of the post instead of scoring as usual.
The opening goal arrived after 20 minutes. Referee Andrew Madley played advantage when Foden was fouled by Kyle Walker-Peters and Cancelo was allowed to bomb down the left.
He twisted James Ward-Prowse inside out and buried a low finish between the legs of Bazunu into the corner.
That effectively settled the contest there and then and the only question left was how many City would get as they returned to the top of the table above Arsenal, who play today.
Che Adams bravely got his body in the way of a Haaland strike and Foden was denied by Bazunu, with the inevitability of a second City goal after 32 minutes matched only by the inevitability of a Kevin De Bruyne assist, his ninth of the season.
The Belgian had options as he strode towards the Saints penalty area and chose to play a pass to his left where Foden was waiting. The in-form England international, who scored a hat-trick last weekend in the Manchester derby, took one touch to control and a second to dink Bazunu into the far corner.
For De Bruyne, it was a 94th Premier League assist for City, eclipsing the record held by David Silva.
Southampton’s best move of the game came at the end of the first half when Bazunu in goal started a series of passes that beat the City press.
When the ball reached the other end, the Armstrongs combined — Adam to Stuart — and the Scot’s shot wasn’t too far over.
City’s third came after 49 minutes. It was a fine move uncontested by any Saints defending.
Cancelo advanced down the left and played a pass to Rodri waiting just outside the penalty area. Looking up and seeing Haaland wellmarshalled, the Spaniard pinged a cross to Mahrez unmarked at the far post to convert first time.
Haaland, who had scored 11 goals in his previous four games at the Etihad, wanted to join in the fun and looked crestfallen as he was first denied by Bazunu and then missed De Bruyne’s low cross by inches.
But the Norwegian still wasn’t to be denied. Grealish started the move after 65 minutes with an infield pass to Cancelo. He played a one-two with De Bruyne and slid a pass into Haaland who was waiting in the right place.
He delivered a first-time finish with his left foot that gave Bazunu no chance. Immediately, he pointed at Cancelo in appreciation and even at this stage, it looks a one-horse race to win the Golden Boot.
With the game won, Guardiola delivered a raft of substitutions and Saints seemed content their beating wasn’t to be heavier. Of the new guard, Julian Alvarez came closest with a shot which narrowly flew high.
Pep the perfectionist still managed a couple of grumbles. De Bruyne, he said, could play better.
As for Mahrez, there was a message to work on his fitness. ‘He has not been at his best. Work at the training ground, fitness, body fat,’ he mused.
Even so, City remain unbeaten in the league since February and it’ll take some team to stop them celebrating a hat-trick of titles in May. Particularly when they share the goals around.