Pep Guardiola gives decisive call on squad situation after emphatic four goal opener

Pep Guardiola got off to the perfect start: four goals, a clean sheet, and all his debutants took what they needed from the match. But he knows that there is room for improvement on and off the field, with a squad that is "not healthy" and match sharpness still to be found before the visit of Tottenham.

‘I liked a lot’

Pep is a person whose feats have met no match this decade. He is not letting up after this triumph.

“[What made me happy] was the result and the first half. The second we were away from what we want to be but it's normal first game short preseason and we train a lot, play not much.”

The Spaniard shared why he thought that the second half was a weaker performance from his men.

“We didn't have the ball. We struggled to make a build up, our pressing was flat, but it's happened. It's normal in 90 minutes in this stage. There are good things we did and many players play really well.”

With less control after the break, the time was right to use a different aspect of the squad's skills.

“Many things I like int the first half. The second half we punish him in transition. We have incredible pace with Tijjani Reijnders, Oscar Bobb, Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush at the end. We have good pace is a weapon that we want they use this season when the ball attack quicker than before.”

Pep knows better than to rest on an advantage in English football, so before Haaland had his brace, he was right to be a little anxious. However, he also cut the side a little slack in the knowledge that they are getting back to full fitness, with their solitary preseason fixture taking place against Palermo.

“It's normal halftime, 0-2 and we were lucky after four minutes one injury and we control the tempo a bit. In that moment before the third goal they had a clear chance. In the Premier League when you’re away, 0-2, concede one goal, you start to tremble, but I liked a lot. Still many things to do better.”

John Stones got the winner in a last gasp 2-1 victory the last time the two teams met at the Molineux Stadium. Two years ago, in another encounter early in the fixture list, the champions were defeated 2-1. At a potentially tricky opponent, the three points will be what gives the manager the most pleasure.

“For the first game always a little bit how we beat the team and away 0-4 like always his struggle last season in the last minute just ago we lost with Nuno we struggle so I am really pleased with that.”

He is under no impression that the Citizens are back at their best. The scars from the last season, when the team gave up their grip on the Premier League crown for the first time in five attempts and were trophyless for the first time since 2017, are still with him. There are still rungs to climb for this camp.

“Always we are back. We won 2-0 Stamford Bridge and look what happened afterwards. It's just the first game. We won today, but if you tell me we are back in second half I would say no. Step by step.”

‘Tijjani give us something we miss’

The summer signings stole the show. Tijjani Reijnders made it simple for Rico Lewis to set up Erling Haaland after a smart shuffle and chip unpicked the midfield. He then turned a pass from Oscar Bobb into the back of the net on the breakaway before assisting a second strike for Haaland.

Rayan Cherki came off the bench to slot a fourth goal into the net with his 'weaker' right foot, while Rayan Ait-Nouriwas a member of the back four that held onto a clean sheet against his old club.

“I never found a player like he's not good in the Premier League. Not just Man City. Never. If you are a football player playing Premier League, it's because you are good. It's how you can get better.”

The talent was always clear, and Pep portrayed the steps needed for transfers to shine on the big stage.

“It's how you connect with the idea of the team and with your teammates. The players are good and have always been good. The job is how we are connected in these kind of things on the pitch.”

The 54-year-old offered his thoughts on the skills that each of the three players will offer the group.

“Rayan Ait-Nouri knows the Premier League. Tijjani gives us something we miss. He has incredible pace, and how he can get into the box. The talent from Rayan Cherki is unbelievable smaller spaces, creativity in the final third is extraordinary and sometimes in certain games we will need him.”

The transfer window will stay open until the start of September, and some supporters might be greedy for more. But the manager made clear that he thinks that the roster remains too bloated for his liking.

“Too many players. Rodri still in the bed and Phil Foden was injured, but Mateo Kovacic is out. He will be back. Savinho out and Josko Gvardiol. Then look the bench. We have Nathan Ake and Ilkay Gundogan. I like competition but I don't want to leave players alone. I don't want it. It’s not healthy.”

The Spaniard spoke more about why there is too much of a good thing in his vision for the squad.

“You cannot create a good vibe, a good atmosphere, for all the players to compete when everyone has to feel that I can play, I can help, I can compete with teammate to help win against opponents. I need that and the club knows it since last season. This is not news. But they have the situation where it is.”

One player who might be about to leave is Ederson. The future of the Brazilian, who has been between the sticks since 2017, has been in doubt, and a stomach bug supposedly ruled him out. The boss is happy for him to exit if he is unsatisfied, but the board will have the final say on the matter.

“I don't have any news. You know my theory: if the player want to leave, he has to leave but in the conditions of the club. It doesn’t make sense if he's not happy here but since I was in Barcelona so I thought about that but the final decision the way they make a deals belongs 100% to the club not me.”

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