Pep Guardiola was delighted to see Manchester City move closer to the Champions League’s knockout rounds after a 3-1 win at Young Boys.
City continued their perfect record in this season’s group stage after a comfortable win over the Swiss side. Manuel Akanji opened the scoring on his return to Switzerland, but Young Boys hit back to level through an audacious chip from Meschack Elia.
Erling Haaland ended a run of six Champions League games without a goal after converting a second-half penalty to put the Premier League champions back in front, before the Norwegian struck his second to seal the win.
Guardiola was pleased with the performance of his side as City coped with a plastic pitch to move a step closer to the knockout rounds.
“No it was an exceptional game our positional game was really good. The physicality of them led to a little bit more aggression against them in the one-on-one,” Guardiola told TNT Sports.
“The second half Matheus Nunes helped us win the game, generally they [players] were exceptional. One more game to qualify mathematically and then two more to finish first.
“In this pitch it is more difficult, the ball comes in a different shape. But the way we played positionally was really good.”
Haaland’s brace saw him move to 37 Champions League goals and climb above Ferenc Puskás and Edinson Cavani in the all-time list of the competition’s leading scorers. After just 33 games he’s now 20th, four goals behind Manchester City’s record goalscorer, Sergio Aguero.
On whether Haaland had worried about his recent European form, Guardiola added: “It is important to have the chances, the people want him to fail.
“I am sorry but this guy will score goals all his life, with the chances he is an incredible threat.
“The players need the ability to find the pass like Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan. But he is going to score until the last day he plays football.”
