Pep Guardiola was delighted with the way his side defended in their 3-0 defeat of Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday.
City put themselves in a commanding position ahead of the quarterfinal second leg in Germany next week, and will be expected to progress to the semi-finals for a third successive season.
Goals from Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland produced an emphatic scoreline, one that both Pep Guardiola and his opposite number Thomas Tuchel said did not necessarily reflect the match.
Although City could have scored five or six goals were it not for the goalkeeping heroics of Yan Sommer, Bayern spurned a host of chances early in the second half.
The visitors’ failure to score was not due to poor finishing, but rather excellent performances from City’s defence and goalkeeper Ederson.
Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake both made crucial blocks either side of half-time, while Ederson made a strong of key saves with the score at 1-0.
City showed their metal
After the game, Guardiola praised the defensive work of his side.
“The back four today – Manu [Akanji], John [Stones], Ruben [Dias] and Nathan [Ake] – was amazing. [They] had the quality to defend against these threats,” Guardiola told BT Sport.
In his post-match press conference, Guardiola elaborated further when asked which aspect of his side’s performance pleased him most.
“How we defended deep, how we controlled the transitions of them [Bayern], even though it’s impossible to control them,” Pep said.
“The back four, how they read that situation without stress and without anxiety. Knowing in those types of games you are going to suffer and struggle. We were there and in the moments to make good actions.
“[We were] really good in the duels. They [Bayern] have incredible players in the pockets so it’s difficult, but in general they did it really well.
“I had the feeling these four guys at the back, they were incredible, so stable. They were there and again and that’s so important.”
Rodri was the unlikely scorer of a stunning opening goal – his first strike in the Champions League – but even he admitted City’s defending was arguably the best part of their performance.
“It [the defending] was massive. Yes we are used to scoring goals but having zero goals in unbelievable,” the midfielder told BT Sport.
“It’s great because they have incredible weapons up front. They [Bayern] have fast players and it wasn’t easy. They played a false nine and we couldn’t detect who to pick [up]. It was great defending from all the team.”
