City slick again as Guardiola praises return to passing game

Manchester City needed to rediscover themselves quickly after a run of games in which they looked to have lost their way, and Pep Guardiola’s champions re-emerged on a chilly Tuesday night at Burnley’s Turf Moor.

Their 4-1 win over a modestly equipped home side was not in itself an indication that City are capable of overturning Liverpool’s lead.

But what was crucial was that City looked like a Guardiola team again.

In their recent performances, including Saturday’s 22 stalemate at Newcastle United and the midweek Champions League draw with Shakhtar Donetsk, City struggled to create the kind of dominance of possession for which they are known.

Even in their 2-1 home win over Chelsea the previous Saturday, City did not impress and registered only 46.74% possession — the lowest of any side managed by Guardiola.

At Burnley that number was back up to 76% and the Spaniard, not surprisingly, sees his side’s return to a dominant passing game as essential.

“I’m glad we pass more,” he said, noting that had been behind the team’s dip in form.

“The lack of more passes ... we are built to have the ball and pass. You have to move the ball more as it’s the only way, to pass the ball. We did it really well,” he said.

With City zipping the ball around, with their old swagger back, some of the players who had been questioned in recent weeks showed their value.

Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, deputising for the injured Sergio Aguero, scored twice and looked sharp throughout, while Spanish midfielder Rodri showed his pedigree, with a thundering strike for the third goal.