Manchester City had to play with the right amount of anger and disappointment to complete their 2-1 comeback win over Fulham on Saturday, according to Pep Guardiola.
City appeared to be on track for a straightforward home win – their seventh in succession – when Julian Alvarez smashed in after 17 minutes to give them the lead. But Joao Cancelo’s red card in the 28th minute, for muscling Harry Wilson off the ball in the box, turned the game on its head.
Andreas Pereira slotted in the resulting penalty to make it 1-1 and Fulham dug in deep to try and secure the point. Erling Haaland came off the bench in the 64th minute and thought he had scored the winner from Kevin De Bruyne’s cross, only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR.
But the defining moment came in injury time when De Bruyne drew a foul from Antonee Robinson to give Haaland the chance to win it from the penalty spot. He kept his cool to score in the 95th minute and send City past Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table ahead of the Gunners’ visit to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
“After 15 minutes of the first half, when we played 10 vs 11, we were really good,” Guardiola said. “We conceded one shot at the end. Of course they miss [Aleksandar] Mitrovic – he’s so important to them.
“The way we played [the] 65 minutes was amazing, 10 vs 11, at the right tempo, had more chances, more control, the personality, how everyone played in the right, certain amount of angry and disappointment for many reasons, we were there.”
HAVE YOUR SAY! Was the decision to send off Joao Cancelo the right one? Comment below.
Guardiola appeared to be referring to the decision to send Cancelo off for a shoulder barge on Wilson. Although Ederson was coming out to collect the through ball, Cancelo was the last man and referee Darren England did not hesitate in sending the City defender off.
Guardiola added: “It was a different two games, for the fact 11 vs 11 was really good. We played a really good 90 minutes, but we played 65 minutes 11 vs 10 – against Fulham that is not easy.
“Without the ball and with the ball we were at the right tempo to play in the right moment. Was really good – one of the best experiences we’ve had here. After, to see with our people together, was great for us.”
Haaland did not start the match after injury, but ultimately made the difference in a 95th-minute penalty. "For me it was about coming in with some energy and try and get a goal because these three points are really important. It was about trying to get it and that is what we did,” he told BBC Sport.
"When you go 10 v 11 for 70 minutes it is difficult, I don't think any team would do it as good as we did it today. I was one week out and finally I am back. A good feeling."
