City’s head coach, Pep Guardiola praise his players after the match; “We have had a short time together and in spells in our last three games my players have shown me how intelligent they are”, “They are really good players with a lot of quality which they have shown here in one of the toughest places in the Premier league – at least people told me that”.
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Chelsea had to deep dig from a goal down to defeat Watford by 2-1 in a second round Premier League match played at the Vicarage Road. But the rest, we saw again incredible team spirit, how they communicate with each other, how they celebrate the goals, after the game with the fans. That is the first step.
“We are all picking up the concepts of Guardiola, and I am here because I know his style of play”, he added.
As for Leicester, the champions are still searching for the first win of their title defense after a 0-0 draw at home to Arsenal, in a game between the top two teams from last season.
“It’s not enough to receive the ball from his teammates, he has to help us in the first pressure and run a lot and help us a lot with movement”.
It was thought that a fixture at the bet365 Stadium would present a big test for the embryonic Guardiola regime following Stoke’s 2-0 victory here past year and, after Aguero’s first-half double, the Potters hit back through a Bojan Krkic penalty.
With the rangy Pogba, the gangly Marouane Fellaini, the strapping Eric Bailly and towering striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who scored twice – also in the starting XI, United look a more physically imposing team than they have for some time. “That’s why I like to defend with zonal marking because it is not man to man”. You can not be brilliant with the ball if you disappear when you don’t have the ball. I don’t care what people say about him after previous year or the Euros – these things happen, footballers have ups and downs.
“All the teams have to careful with these kind of actions. I’m not a guy who likes to complain”.
“I don’t want the players to think I am looking for an alibi”. Burnley deserved to win with a very passionate performance.
Manchester City winger Nolito has admitted that even he is surprised at how quickly Man City have gelled.
City, United and Chelsea all failed to finish in the top three last season, capping an unpredictable campaign that saw 5,000-1 shot Leicester win the league in an upset for the ages.
“If that’s what the directive is, let’s hope every time Mike Dean referees, he referees in the same manner”, Hughes said. In my experience usually there is a purge for three or four weeks and everyone reverts to type.
“As long as it’s consistent and it’s from this game to the end of the season then I haven’t got a problem with it. Mike Dean is one of the more high-profile referees so maybe he enjoys that centre of attention, possibly”.
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Stoke spoiled their good early work though by gifting City the lead with 27 minutes played.
