No enjoyment, ‘just relief,’ says Guardiola as City stop rot at Foxes

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said relief was his overriding emotion after a 2-0 victory at Leicester secured just a second win in 14 games for the crisis-hit English champions on Sunday.

Savinho and Erling Haaland struck either side of half-time as City ended a run of eight away games without a win.

The performa+nce was still far from the standards that Guardiola’s side have set in winning an unprecedented four consecutive English top-flight titles.

But the effusive celebrations of Haaland’s header 16 minutes from time showed that three points was all that mattered for the visitors to at least temporarily halt their remarkable slump in Guardiola’s 500th game in charge

“It is not enjoyable right now, it is just relief. We have done incredible things for many years,” said Guardiola.

“We have done a lot of things that will be in the memory forever and maybe this period, which feels like a 100 months, will make us realise how nice it was and hopefully we can come back, maybe not be what we were but more close than now.”

“Today we won and this is what we needed for our minds and souls.”

Victory lifts City up to fifth but they are still 14 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

After a bright start to Ruud van Nistelrooy’s reign, Leicester have lost their last four to fall into the bottom three.

The Foxes were left to rue not taking their chances to inflict more misery on a City side still showing a clear lack of confidence.

Any time the home side crossed into City territory in the first half they appeared a major threat.

Agencies

Leicester: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said relief was his overriding emotion after a 2-0 victory at Leicester secured just a second win in 14 games for the crisis-hit English champions on Sunday.

Savinho and Erling Haaland struck either side of half-time as City ended a run of eight away games without a win.

The performa+nce was still far from the standards that Guardiola’s side have set in winning an unprecedented four consecutive English top-flight titles.

But the effusive celebrations of Haaland’s header 16 minutes from time showed that three points was all that mattered for the visitors to at least temporarily halt their remarkable slump in Guardiola’s 500th game in charge

“It is not enjoyable right now, it is just relief. We have done incredible things for many years,” said Guardiola.

“We have done a lot of things that will be in the memory forever and maybe this period, which feels like a 100 months, will make us realise how nice it was and hopefully we can come back, maybe not be what we were but more close than now.”

“Today we won and this is what we needed for our minds and souls.”

Victory lifts City up to fifth but they are still 14 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

After a bright start to Ruud van Nistelrooy’s reign, Leicester have lost their last four to fall into the bottom three.

The Foxes were left to rue not taking their chances to inflict more misery on a City side still showing a clear lack of confidence.

Any time the home side crossed into City territory in the first half they appeared a major threat.

Agencies