Manchester City vs. Fulham – Football Match Report

Pep Guardiola has revealed that Benjamin Mendy missed Manchester City’s Premier League victory against Fulham because of a knee problem and he does not know how long the French defender will be out.

“Bernardo can play there because he can fight”, said Guardiola.

“Our aim is obviously to build on the achievements of the previous year”, Al Mubarak, City’s chairman since the club was bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, said in a statement. “One of the worst players in the team”. They showed great possession of the ball and great attacking weapons. “They didn’t have a scoreboard when I first came – a man used to come around with a blackboard with the score on it”. Both [parties] were agreed with what we wanted and it was done in a day. “When you change, it is always more hard”.

The Cottagers faced the dilemma most teams face when playing the reigning champions. “The most important thing is to try to help him”. [A mistake] doesn’t matter, but control the ball and pass the ball simple.

Guardiola thinks Bernardo Silva’s early days at City are comparable to what Riyad Mahrez is going through following his move from Leicester City, having to be content with brief spells on the pitch.

There could have been many more goals, but while they opened up Fulham with some ease, City were unable to fully punish them.

Starting XI: Ederson (6), Walker (7), Laporte (7), Otamendi (7), Delph (8), Fernandinho (8), David Silva (8), Bernardo Silva (9*), Sane (7), Aguero (7), Sterling (7).

The only criticism would be of Sterling, who should have scored in the first half, but saw his shot saved from close range by Marcus Bettinelli.

The brilliant David Silva doubled the hosts’ lead before the break, with Raheem Sterling all but securing the win two minutes into the second half.

Neither injury is serious, but with the fixtures coming thick and fast, Guardiola is unlikely to take any risks for a home game which City should really win.

Guardiola said: “He looks skinny, small, but he is… wow”. He finished the first half good but was uncomfortable at the start of the second half and there was no point taking a risk with it being 3-0. We will see tomorrow how he wakes up.

“It is nearly impossible to be more pleased as a manager with him”, Guardiola praised. “His body language is the same as last season and he was the best young player in the league”.