In the seventh round of the Premier League, Kovacic scored twice, ultimately helping Manchester City secure a narrow 3-2 home win against Fulham. After the match, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke to the media.
Guardiola told Sky Sports, “The game was very intense, with chances for both sides. We started well and created many opportunities, but when they switched to a back five, it became more difficult. Despite the risks, we eventually overcame it.”
“Kovacic’s two goals were good, and since they used a back five formation, only their forward could press Kovacic, which meant less threat from them during defensive transitions. Taking advantage of this situation allowed us to better control the ball and organize our attacks.”
“This season, without Rodri, we had to find solutions. We have Kovacic and Gundogan, and we can have Stones, Rico Lewis, and Akanji take on this role, so we need to find ways. Of course, Rodri’s presence is very important in such games, but we performed well.”
“Doku’s winning goal? We always talk about his dribbling skills, but the key is the final pass and action. When he shot, I was diagonally opposite him, and the ball had an incredible curve. I’m happy for him. He performed excellently in the last game against Bratislava, and today as well.”
“Fulham is a very good team. Marco Silva is a top coach who has been there for many years. They brought in many quality players in the summer, including those from Arsenal (Smith Rowe and Nelson).”
“The comeback? We always have the ability to do that. Just like against Brentford, even though we sometimes concede goals, we perform well.”
Guardiola: The game became tougher after Fulham switched to a back five; We always manage to turn things around. Author：Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced：https://www.sportsuefa.com/football-world/42141.html
