As the Manchester City thrashed Stoke City 7-2 on Saturday to ride atop points table of the Premier League, their coach Pep Guardiola didn’t shy to call it team’s best performance since his arrival.
“We can always do better but I cannot deny today was the best performance since I arrived here,” Guardiola said as quoted by AFP.
Also read: Rampaging Manchester City put 7 past Stoke
Thanks to their heroics last night, Manchester City became the first team to score 29 goals in the first eight games of an English Premier League season since Everton in 1894-95.
The 46-yeard-old Spaniard added: “I am here to win, I am not here to entertain, but this is the way we want to play. Our confidence is high.”
Securing their sixth successive Premier League win, Guardiola’s free-scoring City netted three goals in the first 27 minutes at Eastlands.
Gabriel Jesus scored in the 17th minute, followed by Raheem Sterling’s goal two minutes later. David Silva got City’s third goal with a simple finish in the 27th minute.
Stoke’s Mame Biram Diouf reduced the deficit with a deflected effort in the 44th minute and City’s defence was breached for just the fourth time in the league this season when Kyle Walker scored an own goal two minutes after the half-time.
However, Jesus struck his second goal in the 55th minute to extend City’s lead to 4-2. Jesus’ compatriot Fernandinho strengthened the team’s position five minutes later through a brilliant goal.
Leroy Sane netted in the 62nd minute as City reached their sixth goal. In the 78th minute, Bernando Silva scored his first goal for City.
(With inputs from agencies)