MY ACCOUNT
Pep Guardiola hailed Erling Haaland and Phil Foden after Manchester City’s 4-1 win at Bournemouth on Saturday.
Both Haaland and Foden found the net at the Vitality Stadium in between Julian Alvarez’s opener and a Chris Mepham own goal, with Jefferson Lerma hitting a late consolation for the hosts.
It was the fourth of five consecutive away games for City, and their first win in three after 1-1 draws at Nottingham Forest and RB Leipzig.
“Considering the amount of games and a lot of travel, we played incredibly aggressive,” said Guardiola. “Our attack was more dynamic and we got a good result.”
Haaland scored the second of the game from close range to record his 27th Premier League goal of the season, beating Sergio Aguero’s club record for a single season in the competition, and giving the Norwegian the most league goals by a City player in a single top-flight campaign since Francis Lee’s 33 in 1971-72.
“Erling Haaland, his impact has been incredible,” Guardiola added. “We love him and he is helping us. Today we found him more and he is an incredible threat.”
It was only Foden’s 15th start in the league this season from his 22 appearances, and he was instrumental as he created seven chances in all, the most by a City player in a Premier League away game since James Milner’s eight against Aston Villa in October 2014.
“We need Phil, his work ethic, his goals, his assists. Step by step he will be back,” his manager said.
Guardiola also had words of praise for 18-year-old Rico Lewis, who impressed again at right-back, lauding his “quality and intelligence” and ability to “move in small spaces, to play in pockets that we need”.
Lewis completed 67 of his 72 passes (93.1 per cent), and was also happy to have the backing of the Spanish coach.
“I love playing in this role. I have played as a midfielder before and then been a full-back, so I love it,” he said. “I have played there all the way through the academy but with these players around you, it’s 10 times easier.
“I got my rhythm quickly and did as well as I could. Pep just tells me to play my normal game but asks me to go inside alongside Rodri, to give us more control of the midfield. It’s about winning the ball back on the transition.
“It’s nice that he wants to play me and trusts me, it’s up to me to perform. The players in the dressing room are very experienced and have had it every year, we know to focus on ourselves and that’s the only way.”
