Pep Guardiola has warned that Manchester City are close to finding the levels that have seen the Premier League champions dominate English football for the past decade.
City were in inspired form against Ipswich on Sunday and ran out convincing 6-0 winners on Portman Road. Phil Foden (2), Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and James McAtee were on target for East Anglia, bringing the club back into the top four after starting the day in eighth place.
While there are still some elements of City’s game that need to be ironed out, Guardiola said after the game that his side are doing a lot of things right as they look to secure qualification for next season. Champions League.
“We are very happy, we are going back to doing things that have defined this team for the last 10 years,” Guardiola said. Sky Sports after the game. “Really happy for the three points and to qualify for the Champions League for next season, it’s going to be so difficult.
“Much better. Maybe not our best, but closer to the consistency we have in our game. Most didn’t happen in the previous games we won.
“The way we went without the ball, you can’t play in the small spaces. Everyone with the ball was smart, faster, faster. Everyone is connected. You can’t be quick, smart and good if you’re not connected defensively.”
Guardiola admitted his mind had turned to the Champions League clash in midweek Paris Saint Germain before the game was even over, with City needing two positive results to secure their place in the play-off round of this season’s revamped competition.
“After four or five zero, I had my eye on Paris,” he confirmed. “We have to travel a lot. I want to say a big thank you to our fans.
“Away again, it’s not easy to come here, it’s a long journey and I’m very happy to play this way for them. They can go back and drink some beer on the train and enjoy our time together. Thank you very much.
“Whenever we go on these long trips, they come with us. We will come back late and prepare for a final. We have two finals, winning two we qualify, winning one there is a big chance. We have to get the points because we created our own problems especially with Feyenoord.
“Even the game we lost in Lisbon. But at that time we had many problems. We couldn’t compete as we wanted for many reasons. Hopefully we can continue in Paris for the next game.”
