Manchester City edged closer to another Premier League title with a resounding win at Fulham this afternoon, leaving Pep Guardiola’s men with just a “final and big final” to negotiate.
City were never troubled at Craven Cottage with Josko Gvardiol scoring twice to add to a Phil Foden goal and a late Julian Alvarez penalty.
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The 4-0 win moved City two points clear at the top of the table ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Manchester United tomorrow. City also have two games remaining – at Tottenham on Tuesday before they finish at home to West Ham next Sunday.
Guardiola told BBC Match of the Day: “The great players enjoy playing with great pressure. These players in the last few years have been able to do it and we are again in the latter stages.
“Our dream is as we said a few weeks ago when they [Arsenal] lost against Aston Villa, to arrive in the last games with it in our hands, to play West Ham at home with the destiny belonging to us.
Another strong showing! 💪#ManCity | @okx | #StatWrap pic.twitter.com/TghyksU1Qm
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 11, 2024
“We did a really good job today. The first 10 minutes we struggled because as always they defend really well. But Berni [Silva] and Kova [Kovacic] and Rodri make a long action with a lot of passes and calmed the game and then Josko managed to get the goal.
“We played really well and now we recover, go back to Manchester, then come back to London to play the final [against Spurs and then] the big final to try and retain our title.”
Was Guardiola pleased with Gvardiol?
Gvardiol has now scored five goals in his last seven games in all competitions from left-back, but perfectionist Guardiola was reticent to join in the adulation.
The former Barcelona boss said of his new-found goal machine: “Absolutely unexpected. He is unbelievable with both feet. Normally the left is difficult to find, he is more comfortable with his right. Big goal at Santiago Bernabeu, goal today with the right foot.
“[But the] second half he was not at his best, a lot of balls, and as a defender you have to be tight. For him to add the goals he is it is more than welcome, but he has to be more tight. But he is 21 years old, he will improve.”
