Guardiola became the first City manager in history to win his first seven games in charge with the 4-0 humbling of Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday.
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I see Manchester City as potential champions.
Guardiola, a two-time Champions League victor with Barcelona, also called on City’s supporters to end their practice of booing the competition’s anthem. Then there’d be no reason for us to be here.
Striker Sergio Aguero will also be an absentee for the visit of Bournemouth to the Etihad Stadium as he is still serving a suspension for elbowing West Ham United’s Winston Reid.
David Silva is nearly certain to miss Manchester City’s meeting with Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday due to injury, with Pep Guardiola also assessing if Ilkay Gündogan can play a second game in four days.
Widely considered one of the Premier League’s top performers, Aguero has scored 145 goals in 213 appearances since signing for City from Atletico Madrid.
“The Premier League is so hard because you play so many complicated games”.
Bournemouth have never beaten Manchester City in league competition (D2 L6).
Howe continued: “I see Manchester City as potential champions this season”. He tapped in the opening goal from Aleksandar Kolarov’s low cross in the ninth minute, converted a penalty in the 28th after Gundogan was tripped, and completed his hat trick by rounding the goalkeeper in a one-on-one chance set up by Raheem Sterling in the 77th minute.
Manchester City have reportedly agree a new contract extension with superstar striker Sergio Aguero that will keep the Argentine at the Etihad Stadium for another year beyond the expiration of his current deal. “He is a special, special player”, said Guardiola.
“It’s a flawless day for me, to wait such a long time, it’s brilliant to play and have a good first game”, Gundogan told BT Sport following the match.
He added: “He’s an awesome player. His qualities are going to help us a lot”. “We are all very happy to have him”.
Gundogan hailed his “perfect” debut after a compelling contribution before being substituted to a standing ovation on 80 minutes. “I am used to being injured and five months was nothing for me – with my back I was injured for more than a year”, Gundogan said.
“We had some really good moments within the half, probably our best scoring moments came in the second half”.
“It’s been tough not playing and not having any real tests other than training and the odd friendly game so to last 80 minutes is very pleasing”.
“It is a flawless start for us”. Let us know in the comments section below.
“Last night was too wet and today was too hot! It would have been nice to score but 4-0 is the ideal score for us and we’re all very happy”. “I don’t know if it’s definitely going to happen”.
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“The target is to be there every season and the players in the future will want to come because they know we are going to be there”.
