Pep Guardiola has joked that Josko Gvardiol might be ‘the best winger on the planet’ after the defender’s double in Manchester City’s win at Fulham.
Gvardiol continued his purple patch around goal with two goals as the champions cruised to a 4-0 win at Craven Cottage, a result that moves Guardiola’s side back to the top of the Premier League table.
The Croatia international has now scored five goals in his last seven appearances for the Citizens and opened the scoring with a brilliant individual goal, as he drove into the penalty box and finished on his weaker side.
Gvardiol added a second after steering in from Bernardo Silva’s back-post cross, and further goals from Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez completed an impressive performance from the visitors in the capital.
“The great players enjoy playing with great pressure,” Guardiola said when speaking to BBC Match of the Day.
“These players in the last few years have been able to do it and we are again in the latter stages. Our dream is as we said a few weeks ago when they [Arsenal] lost against Aston Villa was to arrive in the last games with it in our hands, to play West Ham at home with the destiny belonging to us.
“We did a really good job today. The first ten minutes we struggled because as always they defend really well. When Berni [Silva] and Kova [Kovacic] and Rodri make a long action with a lot of passes and calmed the game and then Josko managed to get the goal – could have signed the best winger on the planet.
“We played really well and now we recover, go back to Manchester, then come back to London to play the final [against Spurs] the big final we have to try and retain our title.
On Gvadiol’s unexpected run of goals, Guardiola added: “Absolutely unexpected. He is unbelievable with both feet. Normally the left is difficult to find, he is more comfortable with his right. Big goal at Santiago Bernabeu, goal today with the right foot.
“Second half he was not at his best, lost a lot of balls, and as a defender you have to be tight. For him to add the goals he is it is more than welcome, but he has to be more tight. But he is 22 years old he will improve.”
