'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It was always going to be tough for Watford, taking on Manchester City who have been on yet another winning streak, having won their last six games in the league. However, between the two sides, Guardiola enjoys a great record at Vicarage Road with his side scoring 13 goals since he took over from Manuel Pellegrini. This made things even harder for Javi Garcia, with the Watford boss missing the likes of Tom Cleverly and Etienne Capoue.
They immediately conceded goals either side of the half-time whistle with Leroys Sane and Riyad Mahrez scoring two well-taken goals. Abdoulaye Doucoure pulled one back for the home side, five minutes from time and things could have been much worse for the Hornets, thanks to a wonderful first-half performance from Ben Foster.
The former West Brom and Manchester United goalkeeper was a brick wall in the first half, making more than his fair share of saves to stop Manchester City. While he was eventually beaten by Leroy Sane and Riyad Mahrez, Foster made sure that he didn’t concede any more and made Manchester City fight for all three points.
Here are three reasons why Manchester City won the battle of Vicarage Road.
#3 Pep Guardiola has improved his masterpiece
He was always expected to win the league the moment it was announced that Pep Guardiola was taking over from Manuel Pellegrini. While the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager had a comparatively tough first season, in his second, Guardiola showed England why he is considered to be one of the game’s foremost managers. He not only won the Premier League title, but the Spaniard also created a team that managed to hit incredible heights and play gorgeous football, all at the same time.
The likes of Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and many others were immortalised alongside their manager. Now in his third season with the Cityzens, Guardiola has a Premier League and Champions League double in his eyes and has somehow managed to improve upon his masterpiece of a football team. The 47-year-old brought in Riyad Mahrez and Philippe Sandler to improve his squad, and that has changed the team.
Not only do City look a much stronger side, but the former Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez has also added depth to the squad and has adjusted brilliantly to Guardiola’s tactics. While Manchester City does sit top of the Premier League table with 41 points, the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea are not too far behind and Guardiola will need to make sure that his best players at playing at the highest levels, as they get into a tough December.
#2 Manchester City can play aggressive football too
While Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are well known for playing great attacking football, overwhelming teams with their possession and incisive passing, the Manchester side have rarely shown their more aggressive side, but tonight showcased exactly that. Against Watford, a very very aggressive side, the Blues of Manchester showed that they can play both sides of the coin, with Watford putting on the pressure in the last quarter of the game.
The City boss sacrificed a struggling Gabriel Jesus, for Nicolas Otamendi and that if nothing else, showed the lengths that the Spaniard was willing to go. However, the likes of Vincent Kompany, Aymeric Laporte, Fabian Delph and even Fernandinho held their own against Watford, giving the struggling Hertfordshire side a much tougher time than they ever expected.
While many suggest that Manchester City do need to add more steel, but today showed that even the current crop of highly attacking and creative stars, can handle themselves when it comes to showing off their strengthen against a side that’s known for bullying their opposition.
#1 Gabriel Jesus needs to find his shooting boots soon
The Brazilian joined Manchester City amid a lot of pomp and celebration, with the world marking their calendars as Sergio Aguero’s time at the Etihad Stadium was coming to an end. However, eventually, the Argentine stayed and together, alongside Gabriel Jesus, the two forwards wreaked havoc on the Premier League. A combined total of 47 goals and 13 assists read stat sheets, with Aguero even going on to become City’s leading goalscorer.
This season, however, has seen a massive shift in power. For the young Brazilian, the World Cup wasn’t what he expected and for the fans, Jesus certainly didn’t live up to his massive reputation going into Russia. The 21-year-old struggled to make an impact in Russia and he has continued that form half-way into the league season.
While he does have a Champions league hattrick to his name, Gabriel Jesus hasn’t found the net since 19th August in the Premier League, struggling once again to make any sort of impact. Why? That’s something only the youngster and Pep Guardiola can answer, but with Sergio Aguero out injured for the considerable future, Gabriel Jesus needs to find his shooting boots and do what he does best, score buckets of goals.
