Traveling to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup performed an important function in Manchester City’s means to regroup and refocus, based on supervisor Pep Guardiola.
He made these feedback after the champions efficiently steered their Premier League marketing campaign again on monitor with a 3-1 comeback victory over Everton on Wednesday.
In their first match since successful the Club World Cup, City climbed again into the league’s prime 4 because of second-half objectives by Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and Bernardo Silva.
City moved above Tottenham Hotspur into fourth place with 37 factors from 18 video games, 5 behind leaders Liverpool, having performed a recreation much less.
City’s quest for an unprecedented fourth successive league title hit turbulence earlier than Christmas with a defeat by third-placed Aston Villa and attracts towards Tottenham and Crystal Palace. However, Guardiola was happy with the mentality his gamers confirmed at Goodison Park.
“I remember on the plane coming back from Saudi Arabia, I listened to the players when they did not know I was listening, and they started to talk about Everton,” Guardiola mentioned.
“I mentioned, ‘wow, that is my staff.’ I’ve the sensation they nonetheless need to strive.
“We have played many games this season, and people say we are not the same. We have lost one of the last 13 (excluding the Club World Cup). We do not talk enough about how good we are.”
The win towards Everton got here at a value, with defender John Stones being pressured off as a consequence of an damage towards his former membership.
“It does not look good, but we will see. It’s his ankle,” Guardiola advised Amazon Prime.
The European champions, who additionally gained the UEFA Super Cup this 12 months, have missed the affect of injured Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, whereas a foot downside has denied them the providers of Norwegian purpose machine Erling Haaland not too long ago.
“He (Haaland) feels better, but he has not had one training session with us,” Guardiola mentioned. “Hopefully, in January, he can come again with us.
“Kevin is close… we have to be careful. If you do not handle the timings well, you can get injured again.”
City subsequent host promoted Sheffield United on Saturday.
Source: www.dailysabah.com