Pep Guardiola admitted there was more relief than joy following Manchester City’s 2-0 Premier League win over Leicester on Sunday.
Savinho and Erling Haaland scored at the King Power Stadium as Guardiola’s side secured a much-needed victory – just their second in their last 14 games in all competitions.
But it was anything but easy for City as Guardiola celebrated his 500th game as manager. The Foxes showed a courageous performance, especially in the second half, and will squander several missed opportunities.
5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣🆙 for @PepTeam 🩵 pic.twitter.com/KBsx0Lln97
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 29, 2024
For the guests, it takes some of the pressure off what has been a turbulent time for the club over the last few weeks.
Speaking about the result, Guardiola told Sky Sports: “We needed it. We all.
“It wasn’t the ideal performance but it’s almost impossible to bear at the moment. Hopefully the victories will improve our mood.
“It was tight. Twenty minutes into the second half they (Leicester) were much, much better. We don’t have enough energy to last 90 minutes.
“But hopefully the result will help us get back on our feet in the new year.”
The City boss added that it was difficult to get too excited about the win given recent results.
“It’s not fun at the moment, it’s just a relief,” Guardiola said. “That’s the real word to express the feeling we have.”
