Pep Guardiola says Man City players 'underperformed' despite thrashing Sporting Lisbon
- Planet Sport writer
- 16 February 2022
Man City boss wants more from his players after accusing them of breaking the 'one rule' in football in Portugal.
Pep Guardiola was still unhappy despite Man City's stunning 5-0 Champions League win at Sporting Lisbon, insisting many of his players "underperformed."
City were irresistible in the first half and headed in at the break 4-0 in front thanks to goals from Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and a brace from Bernardo Silva.
Raheem Sterling added a fifth after the break that all-but guarantees Manchester City a spot in the last eight of the competition before a ball has even been kicked in the second leg of the tie.
However, ever the perfectionist, Guardiola appeared quite irate with what he had seen from his troops.
"Some players underperformed, and we lost easy balls, but we were so clinical," Pep Guardiola said.
"There is one rule in football when you have the ball and that is not to lose it.
"We had some simple passes that we lost. Against the top sides in Europe we would be punished.
"The difference between the sides is not 5-0, but we were so clinical, we punished them.
"The players know me and the way we work that we can do better. I'm incredibly happy, please don't misunderstand me, but we can do better.
"It was a very good performance," he said. "In the first half we were in that mood to win 4-0.
"We were a bit sloppy, which gave them the opportunity to counter-attack, but we were very clinical.
"You need some luck as well. We are very happy with the win. To win 5-0 away is a great result and it's a great performance.
"Sometimes we've played better than we did in that first half and gone in 0-0 at half-time. We can always still improve."
Guardiola was, though, full of praise for Barnardo Silva, who was Man City's top performer on the night in his home town.
"Always I tell him, he can run 13 kilometres, but he has to score more goals and that was one of the best I've seen for technique," Guardiola said of the midfielder.
