Pep Guardiola celebrated his 500th game in charge of Manchester City with a hard-fought 2-0 win against Leicester.
City moved back into the top five with a win having recorded just one of their last nine top-flight outings before this fixture, while the Foxes remain in the bottom three with a fourth successive defeat.
Savinho’s first goal and first goal in the Premier League calmed Manchester City’s nerves from the start, but they did not convince in the first half.
Jamie Vardy’s penalty, which looked certain to be awarded after being brought down by Stefan Ortega, was overturned due to an offside flag, before James Justin’s header hit the post just before half-time.
City withstood the typhoon after the restart as Leicester continued to press for an equaliser, Vardy closing in from close range, only for Erling Haaland to score his first goal in just under a month after doing his most sensible thing to receive a cross from Savinho on the counter-attack. 15 minutes from the end.
A well-deserved victory for Guardiola and his players, although they still looked like a shadow of the team we are used to seeing in the last 500 games.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to Sky Sports:
“Our mood is in a better position. It was tight in the second half, they were much better. We don’t have energy to sustain 90 minutes. Hopefully the new year can help us bounce back.
“To get effects you have to do something. To do it in the position we are in, a lot of smart things happened today. It’s not good at all right now, it’s just a relief. We’ve done things for many years.
“It’s the best. “
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland speaking to Sky Sports:
“It’s smart to win. I’m pleased that we’re winning. It is vital to look forward. We want to do the right thing. “
“It’s a relief when you score. It was a vital goal to make it 2-0. Leicester played very well, we knew it would be difficult. It has been a difficult period.
“Now it’s New Year’s, so let’s not think too much about football!We can rest a little and then we’ll be back on our way. “
Sky Sports’ Patrick Rowe:
“Man City will be back,” Guardiola said with a bit of luck ahead of his 500th game in charge.
His team managed to solve all 3 problems by the afternoon, but the functionality is far from convincing.
Leicester did enough to win this match. After hitting the post, seeing a penalty obviously disallowed due to the offside flag and a shot cleared off the line, Man City tempted fate again and may have been left with nothing.
With Haaland back in purpose and Kevin De Bruyne gambling 90 mins are either positive – yet City will want to on all fronts if they are to build on this win in the new year – and no one is more conscious of this than Guardiola himself. .
“Erling broke his momentum and Kevin is back, step by step,” he said. “Step by step”.
Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy:
“It hurts a bit because of the performance. We invested a lot in getting a result in a certain way.
“It was excellent play, out from the back and into the final third. Creating chances, it is a shame. I wish we could have taken something after that performance. It is a foundation to build on.”
Sky Sports’ Patrick Rowe:
Prior to conceding Savinho’s open on the rebound in the first half, Leicester looked solid defensively and possessed a real – and regular – threat on the counter.
Even after conceding a goal, that risk remained, and Vardy will most likely lie awake at night thinking about the possibility that he may have grabbed the crossbar from close range.
1.33 xG against the champions and pushing them right to the very end is something to be proud of – but it also highlights the need for investment in the January transfer window.
Leicester created the chances to walk away with something today but if they do not have anyone to finish them, they will be returning to the Championship in the summer.
Vardy and Patson Daka offer solid characteristics to fall back on, but Leicester need a leader who can keep them safe. It is a profile that Van Nistelrooy knows well, as he has scored just under a hundred goals in the league.