Kevin De Bruyne’s convalescence from his serious knee injury began with him witnessing another mesmeric
Manchester City performance. On days like these, the sense is that
Pep Guardiola’s finely tuned team can do precisely what they wish, when they wish: on Sunday it was to trounce
Huddersfield Town 6-1.
A display of near-perfection featured the superb Benjamin Mendy and David Silva and was crowned by
Sergio Aguero’s ninth
Premier League hat-trick – the lethal marksman now has 14 goals in his last eight home league appearances.
This left Guardiola purring and ready to joke. Asked if the striker might still be more clinical, he said: “More clinical? It is okay. Three goals a game is okay. I am not going to demand he’s more clinical. Since he came back [to training], I saw him from the first second, from the first minute: wow. He came back perfect.”
Guardiola pointed to the operation Agüero had towards the end of last season on a damaged knee. “I think the surgery from the doctor helped a lot. He feels free now. He suffered last year with some problem. It’s not just scoring goals – the space, creating chances, moving, assists, chances, fouls. He never stops.
“When this happens, he is one of the best strikers in the world, without a doubt. What can you say? So, chapeau. In this period, since he arrived, Community Shield [scoring twice in 2-0 win over Chelsea], Arsenal, today – it’s perfect.”
Guardiola’s XI had caused some head-scratching regarding the formation. Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Gabriel Jesus were selected in place of Kyle Walker, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling, and with John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Mendy the other recognised defenders, this suggested a back three and so it proved.
David Wagner also made three changes from Town’s opening weekend defeat at Chelsea. In came Jon Gorenc Stankovic, Tommy Smith and Abdelhamid Sabiri as out went Mathias Jørgensen, Jonathan Hogg and Aaron Mooy in a 3-5-1-1.
Twenty-three minutes had passed before Wagner’s men threatened – Steve Mounie passed the ball back to Stankovic but his 20-yard attempt ballooned over.
There was no such direction issue for Ederson from the resulting goal-kick. The Brazilian struck a sweet 70-yard pass to the roving Agüero and, as Ben Hamer advanced, the goalkeeper found himself the victim of a cute lob and City led 1-0.
Now Jesus, partnering Agüero, was about to join the Argentinean on the scoresheet. Once more Mendy drove at Huddersfield. When a pass to Jesus was returned, the ball ricocheted off the Frenchman back to No33 and he made it 2-0.
Mendy was also the man behind City’s third. This time he sent in a skidding cross that Hamer spilled and there was Agüero to add his second and the champions’ third.
Wagner said: “He made some mistakes today but some great saves as well.”
This came on 35 minutes, which meant that three strikes in a 10-minute burst had surely put Town in damage-limitation territory. Except, no: City switched off from a Philip Billing header, Mounie headed on, and Stankovic got ahead of Stones to force home.
Soon after the break, though, David Silva restored the three-goal cushion. A cross-field run from the excellent Agüero ended in him winning a free-kick. Silva danced forward and bent a 20-yard peach past Hamer.
In De Bruyne’s absence the Spaniard pulled the strings in his own expert fashion. “He made an outstanding performance, his first game after the summertime. Of course, he was so motivated because his family, parents, wife, and especially Mateo were here,” said Guardiola of Silva’s son who was born in December, 15 weeks premature. “He scored an amazing goal for him. His son will never forget the first time he saw his father play football, he scored this outstanding goal.
“We met him the first time two days ago. Today [after the game], he was in the locker room with all the team, all the squad. Last season was a tough moment for all his family. Fortunately, the little boy fought a lot and he is here. It’s a special day for him, for us, for David.”
As it was for City fans watching their team. At just past the hour mark Mahrez replaced the impressive Silva for his home debut. It illustrated the depth of Guardiola’s squad, particularly as Sterling, Leroy Sané, Walker, Nicolás Otamendi and Phil Foden remained on the bench.
City continued to press to the end. Agüero drew another stop from Hamer. Jesus – not for a first time – raced back to dispossess and initiate another attack, while Mahrez flew along the right to send Town scurrying.
Then came Agüero’s hat-trick. Mendy capped his best City display with a cross the striker hit first time past Hamer and Sané forced City’s sixth as the No1 deflected the ball on to the unfortunate Terence Kongolo and into the net.
Guardiola explained whey he paired Agüero and Jesus. “Last season we did it once or twice. We suffered last season a lot against Huddersfield [0-0 draw]. We had the problems against teams who had four or five at the back and their strikers going back to help holding midfielders. So we decided to play two strikers.
“We have a guy like Mendy who is clever in the final third to see the pass. Today it works but it doesn’t mean in the next game we are going to play the same way. Important is the desire without the ball. Today was much better in terms of football and consistency During 90 minutes [against] Chelsea and Arsenal we survive.”
City did more than survive on Sunday: they thrived.
