"I liked the way we did it", says Pep Guardiola after a 5-2 win over Juventus

Manchester City looks like they have returned to their finest form after thrashing their Italian opponents 5-2 in the FIFA Club World Cup fixture. The team struggled to get going in the Premier League 2024/25 season but against the Old Lady, they registered a comprehensive 5-2 win. The gaffer, Pep Guardiola, was buoyed by the win and spoke to the media in a gleeful manner. Guardiola said that he liked the way the players performed. He also said that he saw such a performance from his team after a very long time. Expressing his delight, here's what he said: 

I liked the way we did it

It has been a long, long time since we had a performance like this on and off the ball. The players were committed and we are happy to beat a top side

While Pep Guardiola acknowledged that this is just one game, he stated that he cannot undermine what it feels like for the team to perform like this one. He also mentioned that games like these build belief. The Spaniard said:

This is just one game, but I think the players felt again what it was like to be a good team. The belief always comes from your performances, not your past.

Are Manchester City back ahead of the Premier League 2025/26 season?

After a dismal 2024/25 season according to their standards without any trophy, Pep Guardiola was criticized across the board. However, the game against the Italian giants told a different story. Pep Guardiola's side controlled and dominated possession, and when they didn't have the ball, they pressed the opposition aggressively to win it back. They maintained 76% possession and dominated in every aspect of the game. 

The Cityzens had 24 shots whereas the opposition had just five. Manchester City also completed 738 passes in the game whereas Juventus struggled to complete even one-third of that. This performance has not only made the teams in the FIFA Club World Cup take notice from the sidelines, but has also sent a warning to rivals in the Premier League.