Pep Guardiola relished the challenge of conceding early against Brentford, saying that his side “struggled a lot” to break down their opponent.
Manchester City do not often fall behind in matches, but found themselves trailing at the Etihad after just 22 seconds as Yoane Wissa headed home from close range, taking advantage as Ederson failed to control Keane Lewis-Potter’s close range shot.
While a first-half brace from the free-scoring Erling Haaland, who has now scored nine goals in just four appearances this season, eventually turned the tie around, City were presented with one of the stiffer challenges they have faced in recent seasons. It was a champions’ win for Guardiola’s outfit.
Guardiola said: “I am a big fan of Brentford. They play long balls but they have ability to play as well. I give a lot of credit to my players, from where we come from in the past but to still be able to suffer. I prefer to win that way than four or five nil. We need that.
“We struggled a lot to read when to shoot and press. We were lucky to find the goals but in the second half we were better and probably deserved to score more goals.”
He felt that the win was an empowering one, adding that “We needed that to feel how difficult everything is, how difficult the Premier League is every game. People say City so strong but the Premier League is so difficult. Today was the real proof.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, he had a raft of compliments for Thomas Frank. The Dane has managed Brentford since 2018, sticking by the club despite interest from various Big Six clubs.
“I am a big fan of Thomas Frank,” said Guardiola. “I don’t remember in eight or nine years have a team playing the way they played.
He also backed Frank to find work at a top European club, saying that it is simply “a question of time. Thomas is one of the best. It is going to happen.”
