Guardiola praises Brentford manager Thomas Frank following tough 2-1 victory for Man City

Pep Guardiola praised Brentford for their strong performance against Manchester City, acknowledging that they gave the champions an early scare. However, City ultimately came from behind to secure a victory and take the top spot in the English Premier League on Sept 14.

Thomas Frank’s visitors attacked straight after kick-off and scored in 22 seconds – the quickest English top-flight goal so far this season – before Erling Haaland’s double secured a 2-1 win.

Brentford gave City all sorts of trouble in the opening period on the counter-attack which led to Guardiola making changes at the break that pegged the visitors back in their own half.

“I am a big fan of Thomas Frank. I don’t remember in eight or nine years having a team playing the way they played. We were lucky with the deflection (for Haaland’s first goal) because they deserved 1-0 (lead),” the City boss said.

“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.”

Guardiola added that this was exactly the kind of game City needed to remind them how difficult the league is and it is only a matter of time before Frank manages a big club in Europe.

“People say City so strong but the Premier League is so difficult. Today was the real proof,” he added.

While City are the only team with a perfect four wins from four games, Brentford are not doing so bad themselves, winning two and losing two.

“I am extremely disappointed we didn’t get something out of this game but on the other hand very proud,” Frank said.

“The first 25 minutes was world class, we were better than Manchester City. Second half, they were more on top.

“I respect Pep Guardiola very much because he made tactical changes at half-time and then he is not too proud to put the ball down in the corner because they need to win. We must have done something right today.”

In another match, Christopher Nkunku came off the bench to score the winner four minutes from time as Chelsea ground out a 1-0 win at Bournemouth.

The Blues rode their luck at the Vitality Stadium as Robert Sanchez saved a first-half penalty from Evanilson and Bournemouth twice hit the woodwork.

There was still time for a Premier League record to be set as referee Anthony Taylor dished out 14 yellow cards, surpassing the previous high of 12.

“You cannot come here and win without getting your shirt dirty,” said Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, whose side have two wins, one draw and one defeat. , AFP