Pep Guardiola stated he most well-liked Manchester Metropolis’s win over Brentford versus a extra comfy scoreline, confirming he’s an enormous fan of Bees head coach Thomas Frank.
Erling Haaland’s first-half brace ensured Guardiola’s facet maintained their good begin to the season, however they needed to come from behind to win 2-1 on the Etihad.
Yoane Wissa’s aim after 22 seconds handed Brentford a shock lead, together with his strike the quickest ever scored within the Premier League in opposition to the reigning champions.
It was additionally the primary time that Metropolis had ever conceded within the opening minute at dwelling within the competitors.
Frank’s facet have been additionally the final to beat Guardiola’s males on dwelling soil in any competitors, profitable 2-1 in November 2022, with the Residents now unbeaten in 46 on the Etihad in all competitions since (W39 D7).
“I’m an enormous fan of Thomas Frank. I don’t bear in mind in eight or 9 years having a workforce enjoying the best way they performed,” Guardiola stated.
“We have been fortunate with the deflection as a result of they deserved 1-0.
“We struggled so much to learn when to shoot and press. We have been fortunate to seek out the objectives, however within the second half we have been higher and possibly deserved to attain extra objectives.
“We would have liked that to really feel how tough all the things is, how tough the Premier League is each sport.
“Individuals say Metropolis are so robust, however the Premier League is so tough. At the moment was the actual proof.
“I’m an enormous fan of Brentford. They play lengthy balls, however they’ve the flexibility to play as nicely.
“I give a whole lot of credit score to my gamers, from the place we come from previously, however to nonetheless have the ability to undergo. I favor to win that approach slightly than 4 or 5 nil. We want that.”
Successful smiles pic.twitter.com/utg63pniSj
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) September 14, 2024
Metropolis have now gained back-to-back dwelling video games within the Premier League after conceding the opening aim for the primary time since November 2019, whereas they’re now unbeaten of their final eight matches (dwelling and away) when conceding first within the competitors (W7 D1).
Brentford, in the meantime, have misplaced 5 of their seven conferences with Metropolis within the high flight – the joint-most defeats they’ve suffered in opposition to an opponent within the competitors (alongside Liverpool & Newcastle).
The Bees have now misplaced extra Premier League away video games (14) than some other facet at the moment within the competitors for the reason that begin of final season however supplied the Residents with a stern check of their title credentials.
Whereas solely managing an anticipated objectives (xG) tally of 0.92 from their eight photographs, Frank leaves the Etihad disillusioned within the end result, however pleased with his facet’s efficiency.
“Standing right here I’m a mix of extraordinarily disillusioned we didn’t get one thing out of this sport however alternatively very proud,” Frank stated.
“The primary 25 minutes was world class, we have been higher than Manchester Metropolis. Second half they have been extra on high and made it tough.
“A degree would have been truthful and never typically groups can come right here and say that.
“You possibly can say if we have to win right here we would have liked to take extra of the possibilities we had within the first half.
“I respect Pep Guardiola very a lot and a whole lot of the explanations I do is as a result of he made tactical modifications at half-time, after which he isn’t too proud to place the ball down within the nook as a result of they should win. We should have achieved one thing proper at this time.
“It is a implausible group to work with and we have to maintain doing this.”
