... but Guardiola the perfectionist tells Sane he needs to improve
It was not long into an explanation of Leroy sane’s value to Manchester City’s attack that Pep Guardiola checked himself and delivered the kind of message that underpins all his work.
a sixth goal in seven league games provided the platform for City’s eighth successive win in the Premier League but, even when administering praise, Guardiola also makes a point.
‘ He is a guy with a special talent,’ said City’s manager. ‘He can run in behind so the opponent on that side knows he’s a guy who can attack the byline.
‘He scored a fantastic goal, but I’ve always said to him — and to Raheem (sterling), another goal, seven games, seven goals — they still have a big gap to improve.
‘I like to tell them to be calm. scoring goals is so important, playing well is so important, but they can do better. I don’t have any doubts about that, they are still young.’
How? ‘In the simple things,’ replied Guardiola without missing a beat. ‘when he has the ball, don’t lose the ball. I don’t ask him to dribble, I don’t ask him to make good passes, or to do good shots. It is the simple things.’
sterling, a second-half substitute, scored what turned out to be the winner to continue his productive season so warranted Guardiola’s attention but sane was the player who most affected the game at the Hawthorns.
Not only was his early goal an example of sharp thinking and precise technique but he stretched west Bromwich albion’s backline right into the closing stages with purposeful running. after Fernandinho’s strike he also had a role in sterling’s goal, exchanging quick passes with Kevin De Bruyne to tease apart a well-drilled defence that was then breached by Kyle walker’s cross.
It was another performance to enhance sane’s growing influence in a team bursting with attacking flair, and he is still only 21 years old.
that he has fought his way here having been out of Guardiola’s plans at the start of the season after a poor pre-season speaks of his mental strength, too. He started one of the first five games but has missed six minutes of the last five games to become City’s most played forward in that period, ahead of De Bruyne and David silva. In the last seven, he has scored six and assisted four.
If those are impressive individual statistics, it is the same for the team. City have now set the best 10-game start to a Premier League season, improving their record from 2011-12.
De Bruyne is not convinced by claims the side might replicate arsenal’s Invincibles.
‘to go unbeaten? well, it’s very hard. I don’t think it will be possible,’ the Belgian said. ‘the level of competition is so high, in every team. It’s not like 10 or 15 years ago where you have a couple of teams that won’t win against the top teams. Now, every game is hard and you need to be mentally there.
‘and with the Champions League and all the cups, there will be a game where maybe we are a bit less and maybe lose.
‘Hopefully, we can have two good games this week and go into the international break unbeaten and it will mean we put a lot of pressure on the rest.’
For west Brom, Jay Rodriguez’s goal and Matt Phillips’s late strike made the scoreline kinder than it might have been. tony Pulis’s side have not won since week two to slide towards the relegation zone, but Kieran Gibbs believes the tide will turn.
‘we need to close games, like watford and Leicester, when you go in front it’s important to remain focused for 90 minutes,’ he said. ‘I don’t think the results reflect the performances in some games but in others we haven’t been good enough individually.
‘the effort is there. Everyone is relaxed and enjoying training and giving 100 per cent in the games.’