Pep Guardiola suggested Manchester City are back after their 6-0 win over Ipswich this afternoon.
City entered the competition on a five-game unbeaten run after some poor results before Christmas. But their level of performance was still far below the level that had led them to four successive Premier League titles.
That changed in Suffolk as a devastating display of attacking football surprised the home side. Phil Foden scored two goals, while Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and James McAtee each scored the six goals that lifted City to fourth place in the table.
today #StatWrap đź“Š
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– Manchester City (@ManCity) January 19, 2025
Really happy babe
“We're really happy, we're back to doing the things that have defined this team for the last 10 years,” Guardiola told Sky Sports. “Really happy with the three points and qualifying for the Champions League for next season. It's going to be very difficult.”
When asked to judge his team's performance, he added: “Much better. Maybe not our best but it's closer to the consistency we have in our game. Most of it didn't happen in the previous games we won.”
“The way we played without the ball, you can't play in short spaces. Everyone who had the ball was smart, quicker and quicker. Everyone connected. You can't be quick, wise and good if you're not connected defensively.”
“Ipswich beat Chelsea here, and they won away at Tottenham. They are a good team and Liam (Delap) is a great striker. The players have seen what we are and that is the best thing.”
“You have to enjoy it”
City have endured a difficult season and are almost out of the title race as they sit 12 points behind leaders Liverpool, with Guardiola stressing the need to have fun as they look to have a strong end to the season.
He added: “They (the players) know the standards and know what they did in the past. It's not about winning or losing, you have to enjoy it.
“It doesn't matter if you're a professional or an amateur. You can be in the best theater in London or a theater in Sheffield and the theater in Sheffield will love it and come back smiling.”
Foden was named man of the match after his second brace in a row following his brace at Brentford in midweek.
He told the club's website: “It's good to see me back and scoring goals with a smile on my face and enjoying my football. I've scored some goals recently and I want to keep going now and add to that.”
“Everything seems to have changed for me in front of goal. I think I was a bit unlucky before these goals as I was scoring through some chances.
“If I can keep getting into the box with these players we have, they will keep finding me. I'm happy to keep scoring.”
