Bournemouth 1-4 Manchester City: Pep Guardiola hails ‘exceptional’ team spirit after ending trying week with big win | Football News

Pep Guardiola praised the “incredible” mood among Manchester City’s players after they kept Arsenal on their heels in the Premier League title race by beating Bournemouth.

City ran out comfortable 4-1 winners at the Vitality Stadium, effectively wrapping up victory at the end of the first half, when they struck three times through Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden to beat the hosts.

“I am very happy with what I see every day,” said Guardiola. “The atmosphere in the locker room is amazing, the training session is really good. Everyone helps each other.

Chris Mepham added to Bournemouth’s misery with an own goal shortly after the interval.

It was a final clinical display from City who looked like scoring with every attack, as the gap to leaders Arsenal was cut to two points after the Gunners’ win on Saturday.

It was a first win in three for the champions, who dropped two points to Nottingham Forest in their last league game before drawing a Champions League last 16 tie away to RB Leipzig on Wednesday.

There was no trouble for Guardiola’s side on the south coast as they returned to winning ways with efficiency and style to keep hot on Arsenal’s trail.

Guardiola added: “It was difficult because we played a lot of games last month. No recovery, three days between games, big trips. A lot of pressure, physically demanding.

“Today we came here and acted the way we did. It makes me feel that we still have the desire to try and try. We will try to fight this Premier League, I have no doubt.”

Pep: Players get in trouble if they don’t greet fans

Even with a 4-0 lead in the second half, City’s players could be seen fighting mightily to try and keep a clean sheet.

Top scorer Haaland, whose strike in the first half took him 27 in the league and within seven goals of the all-time Premier League record for a season, was one of the players who could not beat the ball when Bournemouth threatened from the goalmouth. fight.

Guardiola said that he did not expect the players in their duties to the fans of the team, who had already left Manchester.

“The players will be in trouble if they don’t do it,” the manager said. “They will have problems. When the fans come five or six hours in the car, buy tickets, with our salary, we have to run whether 3-0, 4-0, 5-0.

“It seems that I am a demagogue, but this is the truth. You can do good or bad. But the effort at this club when I was here will not be doubted.

“We see the faces of how happy they are to win. You create a good feeling in people, their families. Tell me something else that can be better than that. Our supporters are far extraordinary.”

O’Neil: Lots of positives from the second half

Jerfferson Lerma’s late strike had the home supporters cheering briefly after 83 minutes, but it was a winner’s day.

Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neil felt his side gave a good account of themselves but were undone by costly individual mistakes.

“Not going through them twice in our half would have been good,” O’Neil said. “I thought the performance was decent. We were punished for some mistakes.

“I thought we were on the front foot. Apart from the scoreline, I didn’t feel comfortable for Man City.

“I think we gave a good deal, but we were punished a lot for a few mistakes. We didn’t make the best of our chances.

Man City must stay on Arsenal’s coat-tails

Jamie Redknapp Sky Sports:

“Sometimes you lose against Manchester City, there is quality for the goals, but there was a problem tonight. Zemura just wanted to go forward while Billing was also not good for one of the goals.

“The team punishes you at this level. Three times before half-time kills Bournemouth. Gary O’Neil may think it’s not the worst result in the world, and they deserved a goal, but Pep Guardiola will know that these are three important points.

“You have to stay on Arsenal’s coat-tails and you have to keep asking questions. It was a big win.”

How Lewis helped release Gundogan

Is the city cloak unbeatable? It was asked this past week. Asked if Pep Guardiola does not have a harmonious dressing room.

When cracks have appeared in their previous title rivalry, City have gone into overdrive. Not this season. Those are the people who have left the door open. This city is not the City you are used to.

So he came to the Vitality Stadium to take points and make one at the same time. Three unanswered first-half goals from Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland and Phil Foden blew Bournemouth away.

After a winless midweek in Europe, Pep Guardiola’s side gave the response they were hoping for. It should be about the first 80 minutes of this match. Pep, who is a perfectionist, will be disappointed to lose a clean sheet until the end.

Kevin De Bruyne, who missed the Leipzig game through injury, was fit enough for the substitutes’ bench – but Rico Lewis’ use allowed Ilkay Gundogan to decide this match before the interval.

Lewis hasn’t started a game, or been used, since City were beaten at Tottenham earlier this month, but his ability to cut inside will allow Gundogan license to get forward – like De Bruyne – and cause plenty of damage. .

Lewis said: “I got into my rhythm quickly and did well. Pep just told me to play a normal game but asked me to go in next to Rodri, to give me more control in midfield.

“It’s about winning the ball back in transition. It’s good that you want to play me and trust me, it’s up to me to do.”

Foden helped himself to a goal and an assist in the first half, as did Haaland – taking 27 PL goals to surpass Sergio Aguero as the most in a single PL season for City – with 13 games still to play. Big time for a big player.

Foden’s other goal since the World Cup was in the 4-0 win over Chelsea in the third round of the FA Cup. For Haaland, it was only the second time in his last seven games to ease any worries about whether City are getting the best out of him. City face Newcastle next at the Etihad – just like when you’re in the title race.

Bournemouth should stay in touch in April

Bournemouth are without the injured Marcus Tavernier – and the hosts missed last week’s match-winner at Wolves. But it will not be in a game like this that the status of the Premier League will be decided.

Gary O’Neil brought Chris Mepham into the team in what was the only change from the Cherries’ win at Molineux, but on the same day the country was beaten by England in the Six Nations, Welshman Mepham faced with a baptism of fire – an own goal compounded a torrid afternoon for the central defender .

Jefferson Lerma reduced the arrears late on with his first goal since October – and O’Neil pointed to the positives of having pulled away in the second half.

“In terms of effort and effort and response to setbacks, we are ahead,” he said. “You can feel the fans that they are involved in the type of performance we put on.

“We just came up against a really good team. It was an interesting test for them at half-time because you feel the game is over.

“The second half had to be a response and we showed the world that we did it. The fourth goal killed the boys, but we still created chances.

“I’m disappointed that I didn’t score a couple more. When you’re a player, you have to think about the game and see City’s level. .”

O’Neil knows the nature of this division means teams need to start picking up more points. Bournemouth have won just one of their nine Premier League games since the World Cup break, losing six times, with five points amassed in that period fewer than any other team.

They face a crucial April with games against Southampton, West Ham and Leeds – games that will decide whether they stay in the Premier League or not.

What’s next?

Bournemouth’s next game away for title-chasing Arsenal on Saturday; kick-off at 3pm. Gary O’Neil’s side then hosted Liverpool Friday, March 11; kick-off 12.30pm.

Manchester City will now shift focus to the FA Cup, where they face a trip to City of Bristol on Tuesday; kick-off 8pm. Pep Guardiola’s team then hosts the top four Newcastle today is Saturday; kick-off 12.30pm.