In the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final, Manchester City beat Newcastle 2–0, giving themselves a comfortable cushion ahead of the return match. After the game, City head coach Josep Guardiola commented on the result and the flow of the match, singling out the performances of several players.
According to the Spanish coach, the match was a serious test, especially for Max Alleyn. Guardiola noted that the defenders alongside him — our compatriot Abduqodir Husanov and Nathan Aké — supported him and helped throughout the game.
“It was a good test for Max Alleyn. Abduqodir Husanov and Nathan Aké supported him and helped during the match. Nico O’Reilly also did very well in a new position. In the first half our forwards weren’t connected. In the second half Erling and, especially, Antoine were much more effective,” Guardiola said.
Indeed, in the first half City’s attacking line didn’t look as “in sync” as expected: passes came late and movements didn’t link up. After the break, however, City increased the tempo, applied more pressure and started using their chances more efficiently. The second-half activity of Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo, mentioned by Guardiola, was one of the main reasons behind those changes.
For the record, Manchester City’s next match will be in the Premier League against their fierce rivals Manchester United. The Manchester derby will take place on 17 January. Fans are already looking forward to it, because wins like this ahead of major clashes give the team not only points, but also a psychological boost.
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