Manchester City had two “problems” during their visit to the Amex Stadium. First, when facing one of the fashionable teams in European football, such as Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton, who needed a point to confirm his presence in the 2023/2024 Europa League. On the other hand, and no less important, the celebrations of the 5th Premier League of the Mancunian team in six years.
“I was a little worried that we would drop the level with what we had done in the last four, five or six months. Forty hours ago we drank all the alcohol in Manchester and his game was extraordinary.”affirmed Pep Guardiola in the press conference after the draw (1-1) harvested against the seagulls. And it is that, barely three days after beating Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium (1-0) and raising the league title to the sky of Manchester, the Spanish coach’s pupils had to travel to the south of England to play a postponed match, corresponding to matchday 32.
Although Pep Guardiola affirms that “At half past ten at night I was in bed with my wife, exhausted. I watched ‘Match of the Day’ and slept like a baby.”, he acknowledges that “the players did what they had to do. When you win the Premier League you have to celebrate. They did it with their families, they really enjoyed it and the next morning it was just sauna time”.
The celebrations lasted until the wee hours of the morning, but the rhythm of the matches does not wait for anyone and there was no time for relaxation. “The day after we talked a bit in the afternoon: ‘Guys, we have to be ready for Brighton’, and they did.”added the technician of the skyblues at a press conference, proud of the professionalism of his players.
Finally, against one of the fittest teams in the Premier League, “a fantastic team in all aspects, that’s why they’re in the Europa League, well deserved” as Pep Guardiola himself stated, the citizens they managed to ‘save the ballot’. Phil Foden’s goal allowed the Mancunian team to maintain the streak of 25 games without defeat: “We have also shown why we are the best team in England. We need these rivals to push us to the maximum. Brentford will be the same. It is very, very good that the teams help us maintain that level, because in the finals you have to play at that level, otherwise it will be very difficult”.
Haaland, from ‘war’ to ‘war’
There is no game from which Erling Haaland does not come out covered in bruises. The duel with Yerry Mina against Everton left the Norwegian striker with a torso full of tatters, something that Pep Guardiola himself criticized the Colombian defender, but at the Amex Stadium, the ‘9’ from Manchester City had them with Levi Colwill, Brighton’s central defender on loan from Chelsea.
The confrontation between Norwegian and English was one of the great attractions of the meeting, but at cyborg It ended up taking its toll. Along with the message “Love these” (“I love them”), Erling Haaland posted on Instagram an image of how his leg was after the game against the seagulls. The truth is that the young defender from Brighton managed to dry out the Norwegian, who missed several clear chances, had a goal canceled out in the second half and left Amex Stadium without seeing the goal for the third consecutive game.
