Manchester: After the widely publicised reports last week about them breaking financial rules, Manchester City responded strongly on the field of play with a 3-1 defeat of Aston Villa.
City manager Pep Guardiola said: “Today is a good example and seeing the feeling of the people was nice. The supporters were really good. You could see on social media how the players responded. They know what happened.
“But what happened last week is forgotten. This week we get back to our jobs. I’m much happier now. It is that way because you can see in training how they are focused and working to improve.”
After losing 1-0 to Tottenham in their previous match, their win against Villa puts them just three points behind league leaders Arsenal who they play on Wednesday. Guardiola said: “Arsenal have a game in hand. We will see after all the games when the League is finished. But we are going to London to try and get a win.”
If they do win they will top the league.
City opened the scoring as early as the 4th minute from a corner taken by Riyad Mahrez. Rodri got away from his marker to find space and his firm low header at the near post found the net.
Thereafter they did miss further chances to score. Jack Grealish had a volley from a corner blocked by Calum Chambers and later a corner from Mahrez was deflected on to Erling Haaland but the Norwegian scooped it over the bar from six yards. The leading scorer with 31 goals has had a lean period and hasn’t scored since his last goal on January 22.
City doubled their lead in the 39th minute when a hasty header from Chambers, under pressure from Haaland, went over his on-rushing goalkeeper. Both chased the ball but Haaland having got to it first went too wide to score himself so squared his pass for Gundogan to easily guide the ball in.
Six minutes later, City completed their goalscoring in stoppage time of the first half. Grealish fell in the box after a tangle with Jacob Ramsey and the referee pointed to the spot for what seemed a soft penalty. There seemed to be a discussion as to who was to take the penalty but eventually it was Mahrez and he placed it to the right of Martinez.
A consolation goal for Villa came in the 61st minute. Bernardo Silva lost possession with Douglas Luiz taking control of the ball. He then found Ollie Watkins with a fine pass and Watkins’ low right-footed shot across Ederson went in giving Villa a glimmer of hope. But all that happened was a miss by substitute Philippe Coutinho whose shot was pushed over by Ederson and then in stoppage time Jhon Duran’s volley hit the bar.
Villa manager, Unai Emery said: “They deserved to win the game. But our first target when I came here was to make us safe and stay in the Premier League so we have made progress.”
English Premier League results on Sunday:
Leeds 0 Manchester United 2 (Rashford 80, Garnacho 85)
Manchester City 3 (Rodri 4, Gundogan 39, Mahrez 45+1-pen) Aston Villa 1 (Watkins 61)
Played on Saturday
Arsenal 1 (Trossard 66) Brentford 1 (Toney 74)
Bournemouth 1 (Senesi 30) Newcastle 1 (Almiron 45)
Crystal Palace 1 (Tomkins 69) Brighton 1 (March 63)
Fulham 2 (Willian 17, Solomon 88) Nottingham Forest 0
Leicester 4 (Mendy 23, Maddison 25, Iheanacho 45, Barnes 81) Tottenham 1 (Bentancur 14)
Southampton 1 (Alcaraz 25) Wolves 2 (Bednarek 73-og, Gomes 87)
West Ham 1 (Emerson 28) Chelsea 1 (Felix 16)
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