This newest incarnation of Manchester City is 10 really good footballers and the other bloke who does things around the box that will decide more important games than this one. City are, within reason, letting him do what he wants at the moment, be it carrying possession from deep or whipping crosses from the right. Ahead inside 19 minutes through Ilkay Gundogan, and with quite a few chances before then, City swatted away newly promoted opposition with minimal fuss. Silly late tackles by Adam Smith were branded ‘unnecessary’ by Guardiola after skirmishes with Jack Grealish, the City bench and Cancelo. Barcelona finding a few million quid down the back of the sofa might be the only thing that can ruin Guardiola’s August.

Source: Daily Mail August 14, 2022 04:47 UTC