Manchester City’s third successive late victory “shows what we are,” manager Pep Guardiola said after David Silva’s 83rd-minute winner saw his side equal an English Premier League-record 13th successive triumph.
After late victories against Huddersfield Town and Southampton, Silva scored with seven minutes left on the clock for a City side who, in cantering to an eight-point lead, are showing all the hallmarks of champions-elect.
However, for large periods City on Sunday were frustrated by an organized West Ham United, but their sheer will to win proved too much for the Hammers as Guardiola’s side restored their comfortable lead ahead of the weekend’s Manchester derby.
Photo: Reuters
“It’s a big victory,” Guardiola told the BBC. “It showed what we are. It was similar to the last few games, in the second half I thought we would score. It was massive. They played 10 players inside the box, it was almost impossible.”
“We started really well, but we lost our patience. We didn’t have any rhythm because [West Ham goalkeeper] Adrian was taking 30 seconds every time, but you have ups and downs — what is important is that in the second half it was outstanding the way we played,” he said. “It means we have done 39 points in a row. That is a lot. You see how they run and how they fight, that’s why we are so proud again.”
Guardiola has favored a lone striker this season, with either Sergio Aguero or Gabriel Jesus deployed at the head of their fluid, interchangeable attacking system, but City played both in the second half as they laid siege to Adrian’s goal, and Guardiola said the performance of the Argentine and Brazilian in tandem had given him plenty to consider.
“You have to try to solve it [when teams pack the defense]. We had two strikers in the second half and that helped, it was a big lesson for me. We created more with two,” Guardiola said. “The pace was better, we had more presence in the box. Kevin de Bruyne playing as the holding midfielder gave us the tempo. We were much, much better.”
City have been in irresistible form this season, but it appears that teams might have identified a potential Achilles heel in their defense at set-pieces.
Angelo Ogbonna’s opener for West Ham came directly from a corner, as did the goal that City conceded against Huddersfield the previous weekend, while Southampton troubled them from set-pieces last week.
Against an imposing Manchester United lineup that includes Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic, the Premier League leaders could have their work cut out at the weekend against master tactician Jose Mourinho.
“We spoke a lot about defending set-pieces, but they are taller,” Guardiola said. “It will happen again next week against United so we have to try and concede fewer set-pieces.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care