Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described his side’s 4-1 win over West Ham on Saturday as a “release” but admitted the defending Premier League champions are yet to regain full fitness.
City went into the match having won only once in 13 games before last weekend’s 2-0 victory over Leicester, which effectively ended their hopes of a fifth successive league title. Against West Ham, the scoring opened with an own goal from Vladimir Coufal, followed by two goals from Erling Haaland and a late strike from Phil Foden. Niclas Füllkrug’s consolation of the visitors did little to overshadow the much-needed and decisive victory of the hosts.
Also read: Haaland scores twice as Man City beats West Ham 4-1
Despite the victory, Guardiola tempered expectations, saying: “No. I’m pleased with the victory, but we’re still not what we were for various reasons. The result will help. We struggle, but it surely is liberation. We were lucky with the primary goal – they were higher in the primary minutes and might have been leading 0-1 or 0-2. The second goal helped us, it was an incredible goal, but we’re still not where we were.
Savinho shone for City, playing a key role within the victory. The Brazilian winger forced Coufal’s own goal with a dangerous cross and assisted each of Haaland’s goals, showing his growing importance to the team.
“He was brilliant. He is one of the few who is fresh,” Guardiola said. “The work ethic was incredible, but we still lack composure. We speed everything up. The last two victories are good and we avoided defeat in three, but I would say that a month and a half of poor form compared to eight years is not bad.”
City’s victory moved them to sixth within the Premier League, just two points behind the highest 4. Although Guardiola admits that the team is much from its best, the result gives hope that it is going to regain momentum in the approaching weeks.