Win against Chelsea back like City of old says Guardiola

Pep Guardiola believes irresistible performance against Chelsea was ‘like the Manchester City of two or three seasons ago’ as his side fire warning shot in title race with emphatic win at Stamford Bridge

• Manchester City threw themselves back in title race with 3-1 win over Chelsea 
• Pep Guardiola says their irresistible performance was back the City of old
• The convincing win moved City to four points off Liverpool with game in hand 
• Phil Foden, City’s second scorer, hailed Guardiola as a ‘genius’ for his tactics 

Pep Guardiola waxed lyrical about his players after Manchester City’s irresistible display at Chelsea moved them ominously to within striking distance of the Premier League summit.

City’s convincing win at Stamford Bridge moved the club into fifth – just four points adrift of leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.

Guardiola’s men have struggled to hit top form so far this season – but their performance in putting Chelsea to the sword fired a menacing message toward their rivals at the top of the table.

Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over Chelsea was like the side’s performances of ‘two or three seasons ago’ when they were winning Premier League titles, says Pep Guardiola

City boss waxed lyrical about his side after blowing Chelsea away with three first half goals

But Guardiola played down City’s role in the title race saying: ‘The Premier League is weird for everything [this season].

‘Everything is weird, we just have to be focused during the games but otherwise relax. Hopefully in the Premier League in the last six, seven games we can be there fighting.’

Guardiola admitted that his team look more like their old selves against Frank Lampard’s men – a feat made more incredible that their squad has been decimated by the club’s Covid outbreak

‘Today we were back like we were two or three seasons ago. An important win at Chelsea away.

‘We played really well. I said thank you to all the players. We had players and staff with Covid and we asked players to step forward and they did to make an incredible display against one of the best teams in England.

City have struggled this season but looked back to their devastating best at Stamford Bridge

Their convincing win fired a stark warning to their other Premier League title rivals

‘The only problem is to play these amount of games with only 15 or 16 players. This is difficult to handle but we will see next game who is fit to play.

‘We are still in the first phase of the season, there are tough games.

‘Important today is not just the result. But especially for the way we played.

‘That helped us understand each other, the way we have to play. The players did really well.

‘The energy and incredible commitment. We have three or four days to prepare for the game. The players have been and are fantastic.’

Meanwhile, Phil Foden – who scored and supplied an assist versus the Blues – heaped praise on his boss.

Phil Foden, the second City scorer, hailed his manager as a ‘genius’ after the display

‘We always have great tactics in games like this. Pep is a genius,’ said the England international, who was singled out for praise by his boss.

‘It means a lot when you put 100 per cent into a game to get a good shout off the manager.

‘I’ve got a lot to learn, there’s quality players here. [Riyad] Mahrez could easily have played. I’ve just got to keep improving.

‘This win gives us confidence in the changing room. We want to keep pushing now.’  

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