Pep Guardiola celebrated his 500th game in charge of Manchester City with a hard-fought 2-0 win against Leicester.
City climbed back into the top five with the victory having recorded just one across their last nine outings in the top flight prior to this meeting, while the Foxes continue to dwell in the bottom three with a fourth loss on the bounce.
Savinho’s opener and first goal in the Premier League settled the Man City nerves early on but it was far from convincing in the first half.
Jamie Vardy’s penalty claim, which looked certain to be given after being brought down by Stefan Ortega, was waved away due to the offside flag, before James Justin’s header cannoned off the post just before the break.
City weathered the storm after the restart as Leicester continued to push for an equaliser, with Vardy going close from point-blank range, only for Erling Haaland to score his first goal in just under a month after rising highest to meet Savinho’s cross on the counter with 15 minutes to go.
A much-needed win for Guardiola and his players, although they still looked a shadow of the team we have grown accustomed to watching for the past 500 games.
Guardiola: No enjoyment, just relief
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to Sky Sports:
“Our mood is in a better position. It was tight in the second half, they were much better. We don’t have energy to sustain 90 minutes. Hopefully the new year can help us bounce back.
“To get results you have to do something. To do it in the position we have, many good things happened today. It is not enjoyable right now, it is just relief. We have done incredible things for many years.
“It is not the best.”
Savinho celebrates with his team-mates after giving Man City a first-half lead at Leicester
Haaland: Goal gave relief after difficult time
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland speaking to Sky Sports:
“Good to win. I’m just happy we are winning. It is important to look ahead. We have to focus on the right things.
“It is always a relief when you score. It was an important goal to go 2-0 up. Leicester played really well, we knew it would be difficult. It’s been a difficult time.
“Now it’s New Year so let’s not think too much about football! We can rest a bit and then we go again.”
City won – but they are far from back
Sky Sports’ Patrick Rowe:
“Man City will be back,” Guardiola confidently said prior to his 500th game in charge.
His team were able to secure all three points on the afternoon but the performance was far from convincing.
Leicester did enough to win this game. After hitting the post, seeing a clear penalty denied due to the offside flag and a shot cleared off the line, Man City were tempting fate yet again and could have easily come away with nothing.
Haaland being back in the goals and Kevin De Bruyne playing 90 minutes are both positives – but City will need to improve across all fronts if they are to build on this victory in the new year – and no one is more aware of that than Guardiola himself.
“Erling broke his moment and Kevin is back, step by step,” he said. “Step by step.”
Van Nistelrooy: We have a foundation to build on
Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy:
“It was excellent play, out from the back and into the final third. Creating chances, it is a shame. I wish we could have taken something after that performance. It is a foundation to build on.”
City loss highlights the need for investment
Sky Sports’ Patrick Rowe:
Prior to conceding Savinho’s open on the rebound in the first half, Leicester looked solid defensively and possessed a real – and regular – threat on the counter.
Even after conceding, this threat continued, and Vardy will likely lie awake at night thinking about the chance that he spooned over the bar from close-range.
1.33 xG against the champions and pushing them right to the very end is something to be proud of – but it also highlights the need for investment in the January transfer window.
Leicester created the chances to walk away with something today but if they do not have anyone to finish them, they will be returning to the Championship in the summer.
Vardy and Patson Daka offer solid options to turn to but Leicester need a frontman capable of firing them to safety. Which is a profile Van Nistelrooy will know all about, having netted just under 100 goals in the league.
Story of the match in stats…
Ruud van Nistelrooy and Jamie Vardy, who missed several chances against Manchester City
