Pep Guardiola has warned that Manchester City are close to finding the levels that have seen the reigning Premier League champions dominate English football for the past decade.
City were in inspired form against Ipswich Town on Sunday and emerged a convincing 6-0 winner on Portman Street. Phil Foden (2), Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and James McAtee were on target in East Anglia, taking the club back into the top four after starting the day in eighth.
Although there are some elements of City's game still to be ironed out, Guardiola said after the game that his side are doing a lot of things right as they try to ensure they qualify for next season. Champions League.
“We are really pleased, we are back to do things that have defined this team for the last 10 years,” said Guardiola. Sky Sports after the match. “Really pleased for the three points and to qualify for the Champions League for next season, it will be very difficult.
“Much better. Maybe not the best, but closer to the consistency we have in our game. Most of that didn't happen in the previous games we won.
“The way we went without the ball, you can't play in short spaces. Everyone with the ball was smart, faster, faster. Everyone is connected. You can't be quick, smart and good if you're not tied up in defense.”
Guardiola admitted his mind had turned to the midweek Champions League game Paris Saint-Germain before the game was over, with City needing two positive results to ensure they qualify for the play-off round in this season's revamped competition.
“After four or five minutes, I set my sights on Paris,” he confirmed. “We have to travel a lot. I want to thank our fans very much.
“Away again, it's not easy to come here, it's a long journey and I'm very pleased to perform that way for them. They can go back and have some beer on the train and enjoy our moments together. Thank you very much.
“Whenever we go on these long trips, they join us. We will come back late and prepare for a final. We have two finals, by winning two we qualify, to win one there are many opportunities. We have to get the points because we created our own problems, especially with Feyenoord.
“Even the match we lost in Lisbon. But at that moment we had a lot of problems. We couldn't compete the way we want for many reasons. We hope to continue in Paris for the next match”.