Pep Guardiola was thankful his Manchester City team has Erling Haaland scoring goals and Gianluigi Donnarumma stopping them after victory at Brentford came at the cost of another Rodri injury.
“I have an incredible striker and keeper,†Guardiola said, the Norwegianâ€s ninth-minute goal proving the winner. Haalandâ€s form is reaching the levels of Cityâ€s 2022-23 treble season, the No 9 scoring in a ninth consecutive game. “Heâ€s the best,†said his manager. “The year of the treble, he scored – what? – 50 million goals? I think heâ€s part of the club now, heâ€s settled. He feels now that itâ€s mine.â€
On Donnarummaâ€s crucial save from Igor Thiago, Guardiola said: “This guy starts to play at the highest level at 17. When they told me heâ€s 26 itâ€s like heâ€s had centuries playing football. His composure, his presence. With clubs who play good you get one piece of action and he did it today. One against one.â€
Guardiola passed the personal milestone of 250 Premier League wins, surpassing Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger in reaching that total in a record 349 matches. “I will invite them to a good dinner, maybe not in Manchester, somewhere sunnier,†he said of those legendary managers. “Or in Manchester. Itâ€s an honour and a pleasure to be part of Premier League history. I say thank you to the club and the players and the staff I had. We did it quicker and faster. Now letâ€s go to 250 games more.â€
On Rodriâ€s hamstring issue, the latest setback after a cruciate knee injury last season, Guardiola said: “I would love to have Rodri every three days but after one year it happens all the time, it is so demanding. That is why we tried to be gentle, play for 60-65 minutes but it cannot happen more.â€
Gianluigi Donnarumma slaps the ball away from Brentfordâ€s Michael Kayode. Photograph: Javier GarcÃa/Shutterstock
Keith Andrews, Brentfordâ€s manager, was pleased his team improved after Cityâ€s first-half dominance to threaten until the full-time whistle. “What weâ€re trying to do is bring a team together, a club together, after so many changes,†he said. “I think itâ€s growing. I think you could see that in the second half performance today against top-level opposition.â€
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