Manuel Pellegrini said Manchester City produced the “perfect match” as they warmed up for their Champions League semifinal with a 4-0 victory over Stoke City.
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Fernando (23′) and Sergio Aguero (43′, penalty) put the hosts into a comfortable lead in the first half.
Fernando stole a march on Potters defender Geoff Cameron and leapt to meet a Jesus Navas corner at the near post and direct it expertly into the net.
Stoke manager Mark Hughes, who spent 18 months in charge of City up to December 2009, had asked his players for a response to a run of just one win in six games which had all but ended their hopes of a place in next season’s Europa League.
Iheanacho, 19, struck twice within 10 second-half minutes, adding to goals by Fernando and Sergio Aguero, to lift City, who host Madrid in the first leg of their last-four tie on Tuesday, back above Arsenal to third place.
After bringing on Jacob Haugaard for Given at half time, Stoke came back into the game at the start of the second half with three fine chances.
Pellegrini said he has rated Silva highly for a long time, and even considered signing him during his stint as Real Madrid coach in 2009-10.
With just three days until Manchester City take on Real Madrid in an epic Champions League semi-final encounter, eyebrows were raised when the Argentine’s name was included in the starting line-up for the match with Stoke. Penalty kick and Aguero slotted it home for his 101st Premier League goal.
The defending for City’s fourth and final goal was terrible but Iheanacho showed real composure to round Jakob Haugaard and roll the ball into the empty net.
Manchester City have been playing a lot better since the return of Kevin De Bruyne.
Goalkeeper Hart was able to enjoy the youngster’s performance from his vantage point at the other end of the field and he said: “He’s been brilliant”.
“He’s really worked hard and has got a lot of belief from the manager”.
Which competition is more important to Manchester City: Premier League or Champions League?
“He turned up last pre-season somewhat unknown, it’s fair to say, but he’s worked hard and got stuck in”.
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The Saints are now just one point behind seventh-placed Liverpool, and seven ahead of Chelsea, who moved up to ninth with a 4-1 win at Bournemouth. “So we are going to try to win that game with our best players”. For big teams you cannot choose one competition.”Isco would have been an important player for City”.”I think we’re both playing for something in the league”.
