A Much-Needed “Release” for City Players
Pep Guardiola labeled Manchester City’s convincing 4-1 win against West Ham as a “release” for his squad, acknowledging the psychological lift from the victory. However, he tempered expectations by stating that the team is still not performing at their previous high standards.
End of a Winless Streak
The triumph over West Ham came after a period where City had secured just one victory in their last 13 matches, with their win at Leicester last weekend being the only bright spot. This poor run of form had all but ended their chances of clinching a fifth consecutive Premier League title.
Haaland and Savinho Shine
The match saw Erling Haaland score a brace, with the scoring opened by an unfortunate own goal from West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal off a cross by Savinho. Phil Foden then sealed the win with a fourth goal, despite a late consolation from Niclas Fuellkrug for West Ham.
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Guardiola’s Realistic Assessment
Despite moving closer to the top four, Guardiola downplayed the idea that City had returned to their best form. He highlighted that the team was “lucky” with the first goal and admitted that West Ham had the better start to the game.
“Still Not Like We Were”
Guardiola praised Savinho’s performance, calling him “brilliant” and one of the few players showing freshness. However, he noted a lack of composure within the team, suggesting that while the recent wins are positive, they do not erase the struggles of the last month-and-a-half, which he contextualized against the backdrop of nearly eight years of success under his management.
