Erling Haaland praised a “fantastic team performance” with which Manchester City survived a “terrible” start tonight and defeated Chelsea 3-1.
Haaland played a big role with a goal and a template when City struck back after an early mistake by debutant Abdukodir Khusanov.
The Uzbek central defender, who came from Lens for £ 33.8 million this week, couldn’t manage to ward off a long striker, and after having it bounced off, he could only nod the ball into the run of Nicolas Jackson, who nods the ball for Noni Madueke Explanted Tap on “Home”.
Josko Gvardiol equalized towards the end of the first half before Haaland and Phil Foden secured a victory through goals that brought the men of Pep Guardiola back to fourth place in the table.
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Haaland told BBC Match of the Day: “I think it was a great performance overall, even if we started terribly. It was a fantastic team performance and I’m really happy.
“If we started the start of how we did it, it is difficult, but we really played and kept and continued. We continued to put pressure on and it was the same in the second half. In the end it is what we have to do. We have to brake the defensive and further attack.
“It is so early that it is almost as if you start with -1 goal. That can happen, but it’s about continuing. That’s what it’s about finding inner peace. It depends on that. “
Haaland and Ederson combine with great effect
Haaland’s goal fell after a long push of goalkeeper Everson, with the Norwegian striker defending the attack by Trevoh Chalobah before shot over Robert Sanchez.
“That’s something we practice,” added Haaland. “We are trying to concentrate on creating rooms, and then Everson has already given me many templates. It’s about perfect timing because it is so precise. “
Khusanov’s nightmarish performance was in a blatant contrast to that of Omar Marmoush, who had been lively when he was moved by Eintracht Frankfurt.
Haaland said: “I saw him in the Bundesliga. It will be fantastic to play with him. You can see that he has something special. I look forward to playing with him and it will be a really good time. ”
Guardiola was happy about the important victory
Guardiola was delighted with the way his players reacted to the early setback, which only entered three days after the playful 2-0 lead with a 2: 4 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain-a result, which means that That they have to beat Club Bruges on Wednesday evening to keep their hopes alive for the Champions League.
He told Sky Sports: “Not the best start. Fortunately, they didn’t punish us 0-2. After we had recovered emotionally and performed well.
“We had more possession than in the last games. It was really important. “
He added to the BBC: “We have had problems lately and it was a tough, hard season. Most players have been here for eight or nine years and I will not change my opinion in two months. We have to recognize that what we do is not enough.
“I asked her to get involved and we did it. We played out enough chances to score goals, and in the end I am really happy about the victory.
“Of course we need fresh legs with Omar and Khusanov and now we have a last Champions League game on Wednesday.”
Not easy for Khusanov – Pep
Guardiola is confident that Khusanov will learn from his mistake.
“It’s not easy for him,” he said. “He trains once and then plays against Jackson and Cole (Palmer) as well as Madueke and (Jadon) Sancho. It is a process when you buy such a young player. He will learn. Such measures are the best lesson that you can learn. “
