Pep Guardiola was left pleasantly surprised by Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Chelsea, a match that marked the beginning of their Premier League title defense.
The reigning champions, who have historically been slow starters under Guardiola, managed to secure a solid win at Stamford Bridge thanks to goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic.
Speaking to BBC Sport post-match, Guardiola expressed his astonishment at the performance, stating,
“I really didn’t expect it. I know what these guys can do, but the first day and lack of training made it unpredictable.”
Despite missing key players like Rodri and starting several others on the bench, including Phil Foden and John Stones, City demonstrated their depth and resilience.
Reflecting on the victory, Guardiola highlighted the significance of starting the season with a win, especially in a stadium where they failed to win last season.
“Last season we could not win at Stamford Bridge, so this is good news,” he added.
However, Guardiola tempered his enthusiasm, acknowledging the long road ahead, with potentially up to 70 games to be played this season, including the expanded Club World Cup.
The Spanish manager praised his squad’s commitment and unity, emphasizing how these qualities compensated for their lack of preparation.
“We solved this lack of many things with our commitment. Everyone was at their maximum, and this was enough,” Guardiola said.
As City embark on what could be another historic season, Guardiola remains focused on maintaining the team’s momentum, urging his players to continue performing at their best.
“The bad news is we have 65 games ahead of us,” he cautioned, knowing the challenges that lie ahead in their pursuit of a fifth consecutive Premier League title.
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