ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER — After Erling Haaland’s brace and a couple of Savinho assists inspired a 4-1 win over West Ham, it was put to Pep Guardiola that the “old” Manchester City were back.
He was aghast at the suggestion.
“Sorry? No,” the City manager replied. “You judge the results. We saw for eight or nine years our level. We are not at our level.
“We won, so are happy. It will help us. You judge results, the performance wasn’t good. I’m so happy for the guys, their work ethic.
“In the first minutes [West Ham] deserve to be 0-1, 0-2. We were lucky in the first goal. We are a strong team when we work hard and with the ball have composure, but we don’t have it.
“I’m very pleased with the result but you cannot ask me if the old Manchester City is back. If you saw the game we are not. You have seen many times during eight or nine years what we have done with the opponents.”
MORE: All the latest Man City news | Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings
Mohammad Kudus and Tomas Soucek passed up clear chances inside the first 10 minutes before Vladimir Coufal deflected Savinho’s drilled cross into his own net.
Crysensio Summerville was then penalised for a foul on Manuel Akanji when through on goal – a generous reprieve for the City defender. Brilliant play from Savinho to set up Haaland shortly before halftime left West Ham with a mountain to climb.
Haaland scored his 16th Premier League goal of the season from a fine Savinho pass before a dreadful Kudus error let Kevin De Bruyne set up Phil Foden for number four.
Haaland 💥
Foden 🎯Man City get goals number three and four as they cruise to victory. pic.twitter.com/XaArj9ij6Y
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 4, 2025
Guardiola then took the opportunity to take off Mateo Kovacic and Nathan Ake but City produced a nervy final half-hour in their absence when Niklas Fullkrug’s smart finish was the least West Ham deserved.
It was those moments that seemed to dominate Guardiola’s thoughts as he gave his unvarnished post-match verdict.
“You have to know it. You were here watching our games for many, many years. We’re not at the level – come on!” he exclaimed. “It’s not when we lose it’s a disaster and when we win it’s an incredible performance.
“Against Everton [a 1-1 draw on Boxing Day] we played much better than today. And we draw, big crisis, disaster.
“I’m happy, of course. We scored good goals, Savinho was good, Erling two more goals, the people run. There are a lot of positives. But if you ask me if the team is playing like the last years? No.”
MORE: Man City vs. West Ham final score, result, stats, lineups as Haaland double gives champions first back-to-back wins since October
A more open game ultimately suited the talents of Haaland and Savinho but Guardiola felt his team’s desire to rush in possession was the reason for them being exposed when West Ham turned possession over.
“When we attack quick, the opponent attacks quicker,” he said. “We have to make a build-up, drop them and after make 2000, million passes. We don’t do it. We don’t pass the ball. That’s why we suffer. We lose the ball so easy, that’s why they can run. How many times did we go left, right, back?
“We need to find our tempo and the quality of the players. Our build-up today was quicker, was easier. We adjusted something. It was much, much better. Josko [Gvardiol] was brilliant. But after that we have to pass the ball. We cannot run with the ball, we have to pass.
Guardiola added: “It’s not just because we don’t have Rodri. Rodri is irreplaceable but it’s not about that. It’s our game. Still, everything wants to be quick, we want to win 4-0 after 20 mins. No! Take time, relax and have the control in our hands through the ball.
“Every season, physically the opponents have been stronger. We let them run because, with the ball, we have played better. Of course the team runs now. When you play that way you run more than ever. But it’s not about that. I think we were good, that’s why we had success and now we have to recover that.”
