“At the right time, yes. But if Erling concedes a goal through 3 players, we play [the pass]. We know that with a player of Kevin’s quality, he can find the right players. “
“Actually, I was hoping it would start, it’s better to prepare for the worst. I think the most important thing is the speed of the transitions and his physicality in the crossing area. I think these are the two main elements that we need. “. concentrate on. “
“I wasn’t nervous about the two games City played. We still expect City to win all their games, to be 100 per cent honest. We don’t even want to monitor them. It’s all right. For us, not something has changed.
“When the final whistle blew, I didn’t think for a moment about how many games Manchester City would play and who they would play. Not even for a moment. We have to exploit our potential and face the difficulties in and around the games. And put our soul on the field, so to speak, and let’s see where it ends, there are no guarantees.
Manchester City closed in on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table after beating Brentford 3-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium on Monday night.
After falling to Neal Maupay’s attempt that prevented the game from developing, City bounced back thanks to a hat-trick from Phil Foden. England’s foreigner took the Blues’ point in first-half stoppage time before adding to his tally after the break.
After Liverpool’s loss to Arsenal on Sunday, City knew they would close the gap to two points with a win and move ahead of second-placed Arsenal on goal difference. Les Bleus were right in the capital, dominating from the first minute, despite being behind.
They created a lorry load of chances, especially in the first half, but found themselves up against an inspired Mark Flekken in the Brentford goal. Nevertheless, they did enough to get the job done, thanks to a first-class performance from Foden.
You can summarize how the contest unfolded by checking out the blog below:
Thank you so much for joining us for tonight’s coverage, folks. We’ll have a lot of reactions on the M. E. N. website tonight and even more in the morning.
Catch you then. Take care.
Forget Savio, maybe City need to sign another Brentford set-piece analyst. Or just sit back and enjoy the homegrown lad scoring hat-tricks for them in the Premier League.
The Blues have already attacked Brentford twice and just last week Pep Guardiola praised the paints of Jack Wilson and Carlos Vicens, who scored goals from set pieces in successive games. Five days later, Brentford were celebrating when Ivan Toney deftly blocked Nathan Ake to allow the ball to bounce to Neal Maupay for the striker to score the opener.
That was all Guardiola feared from Brentford, a team that had achieved the double last season and had shown in their games their ability to neutralise the Blues and then punish them with precise play. It was also the kind of goal the coach would have been mocked for. in his first season in England: a Route One effort that was successful and had more impact on the scoreboard than City’s set of smart chances.
Click here to read Simon Bajkowski’s full adjustment report.
Ederson
I had a lot to deal with despite some shots on goal and I controlled well despite some scares, causing more calm than panic. 6
Kyle Walker
Was not immune to the problems in the first half but he improved over the game and had a fierce shot brilliantly saved. 7
Ruben Dias
Some fragile moments at the start of the shot, passes to Rodri’s back, but an exceptional block in the second half. 7
You can check out our full player ratings here.
There goes the full-time whistle at the Gtech Community Stadium, and City are now within two points of Liverpool at the top of the table.
After falling in Maupay’s opener in the 21st minute, City bounced back with a hat-trick from Foden, which was excellent. City, on another day, would have had even more, had it not been for Flekken in Brentford’s goal.
OFF: Maupay
ON: Baptiste
Five minutes of additional time have been signalled at the end of this second half.
OFF: Haaland
ON: Kovacic
It was almost a fourth for City when De Bruyne connected with Doku’s cross from the right and fired a shot just wide of the post. He almost uncovered the back corner.
Ederson came out of his six-yard box and approached the edge of the penalty area to receive a free kick and hit Pinnock when he surely didn’t want to receive the ball. The VAR took a look and felt it was not a penalty. Playback resumes.
Nørgaard goes up to find a Brentford corner and his header is easy for Ederson to handle.
OFF: Janelt, Jensen, Roerslev
IN: Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Yarmoliuk
IN: Doku
OFF: Bernardo
Foden scores a hat-trick! An unforgettable moment for the academy graduate. He bursts in and doesn’t make a mistake. A small pass from Haaland to set him free.
Toney connects with a terrific cross from the right from Maupay and lashes the ball over on the volley. He’d have expected to at least hit the target.
Brentford has been causing problems lately. Maupay is uncovered in the box and can shoot from a corner. His attempt on goal was well blocked by Gvardiol. Brentford is in the lead at the moment.
An important block by Dias to deflect Nørgaard’s shot for a corner. Toney had controlled to bring him back to a dangerous area. Brentford refused to turn around.
The ball landed attractively inside the box for Roerslev and he unleashed a shot well wide of the goal. It was a very good cross from Reguilon in the first case, mind you.
City weren’t testing Flekken as much at the start of this half, but they still saw a lot of ball in Brentford’s half. Brentford try to limit touches in the box, but if you have a talent as talented as Kevin De Bruyne you can’t give him time. It’s a magnificent cross and a magnificent header.
Foden reappears! A very good ball from De Bruyne found Foden’s head, which he sent to the ground and past Flekken. It was a peach in a center. City, in spite of everything, are in the lead.
As in the first half, Brentford tried to beat City on the counter-attack and get the game back at each and every opportunity. City force them back when they win the ball back.
The second half is up and running. Neither manager has made a change.
City are making progress in their efforts to sign Troyes striker Savio in the summer transfer window, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Savio signed a club record for City Football Group in France in a deal starting at £5m with the prospect of £10m, but spent his two years at the club on loan.
He spent last season on loan at PSV and lately plays for CFG Girona. He has five goals and seven assists in 22 appearances this season.
Simon Bajkowski has more details.
Here are their halftime ratings from Gtech Community Stadium:
Ederson – 7
Walker – 6
Days – 5
AKE – 6
Gvardiol – 6
Rodri – 7
De Bruyne – 8
Alvarez – 7
Silva – 6
Foden – 7
Haaland – 6
It’s the half-time whistle at Gtech Community Stadium. City equalised at half-time in Foden after losing to an effort from Maupay. Les Bleus’ functionality in the first half deserved a goal.
And there you have it, at last! City equalised in stoppage time. A cross into the box went to Foden, he received the ball in the chest and put it past Flekken. They deserve it.
The fourth official has indiciated that there will be a minimum of three additional minutes at the end of this first half.
Will it be one of those nights? That may be the case. Foden shoots and Flekken knocks him down, but misses. So far, the Brentford goalkeeper has put in the performance of a lifetime.
City are creating plenty of chances, but they keep falling to the wrong man. An excellent pass from De Bruyne finds its way to Gvardiol in the left channel of the penalty area and he fires wide, though it may have been an attempt at a cross. Walker and Gvardiol have both had chances.
City began to panic in the final minutes and Brentford sensed an opportunity. It was a dead ball from Bernardo Silva to put pressure on Ake and Ederson, and then everyone looked at each other with Reguilon on acres of box to get into the box. A bit desperate on City’s part at the moment.
Brentford are having a little spell of their own now. Reguilon sends a dangerous ball in from the right that almost creeps in at the far post, forcing Ederson to react.