Pep Guardiola plays down Manchester City’s 4-1 win over West Ham, saying squad need improvement

LONDON – While Pep Guardiola said that he would sleep better after the

4-1 Premier League rout of West Ham United

on Jan 4, he brushed off suggestions that his team were back to being the “old Manchester City”.

Erling Haaland bagged his first double in a league game since September and Savinho set up two goals in City’s victory that left them sixth in the table and two points behind Chelsea in fourth.

Vladimir Coufal’s early own goal had given Guardiola’s men the lead. Phil Foden added a fourth after Haaland’s brace and a consolation from Niclas Fullkrug did little to take the shine off a much-needed resounding win for the home side.

But though City won back-to-back games for the first time since October, Guardiola said it was not a sign that their slump was over.

“We saw in many years our level. We are not at our level,” he insisted.

“Don’t misunderstand me. I’m so happy. I will sleep better until the FA Cup (City host Salford City on Jan 11). But you watched the games for years, we’re not at the level.

“Of course there are positives. But if you ask me the team is playing like the years, of course not.”

Often-injured Kevin de Bruyne played the full match, a positive sign just a day after Guardiola said the Belgian's fitness and form would be assessed before the club decide on a contract extension. His current deal expires in June.

The 33-year-old, who has scored two goals and provided his third assist of the season for Foden’s second-half goal, shrugged off questions about his contract status after the win.

“I don’t care,” he told the BBC. “I am just trying to get back to my level. I feel every week I am getting better. I can go for 90 minutes now. It has been an uncomfortable couple of months with the injury.”

Guardiola gave Savinho a mixed review after he provided the assists for both Haaland’s goals and his deflected shot in the 10th minute led to Coufal’s own goal.

The Brazilian had scored his first goal in a City shirt in their 2-0 win over Leicester City only six days earlier.

“Savinho has to do everything to win,” Guardiola said.

“Having a left foot on the left side, old-fashioned vintage football. But has a lot to improve, not aggressive enough without the ball, a little soft in many departments. Right now he has something special for the team. I’m so happy for him and he deserves to play.”

West Ham were 13th after their loss, ahead of Manchester United’s game away to Liverpool.

“It’s true that we did a lot of good things. In my opinion, in the first half, we overcame a lot of things, but we didn’t take advantage of our good things and positive things,” said under-fire manager Julen Lopetegui.

“In football, if you don’t take advantage then normally, against this kind of team, you are going to be closer to suffering a goal (being scored against you).” REUTERS, AFP