Pep Guardiola matches UNBEATEN record as Manchester City earn nervy 3-2 win over Fulham

Pep Guardiola was at the heart of a 3-2 win for Manchester City at home to a Fulham side that gave the hosts a run for their money.

Pep Guardiola matches UNBEATEN record as Manchester City earn nervy 3-2 win over Fulham

Mateo Kovacic & Jeremy Doku scored in a 3-2 win for City (Via X/@ManCity)

Pep Guardiola has defined an era at Manchester City quite like no other manager at any other club in Europe. The Spaniard orchestrated a narrow 3-2 win for his side against Fulham, when a loss would’ve put them in dangerous territory given the fact that Liverpool are currently enjoying a one-point lead at the top.

Goals from Mateo Kovacic and Jeremy Doku helped City overcome Fulham in a game where the visitors showed a lot of intent to take home all three points. Andreas Pereira fired Fulham in front from a volley, carefully set up by striker Raul Jimenez. City then responded six minutes later, when a deflected shot from Kovacic fooled the keeper and went in the back of the net.

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The Croatian then went on to score a screamer from inside the penalty area before Jeremy Doku scored one of the best goals of his City career to kill off the game. The Belgian dribbled past his marker before blasting the ball past Bernd Leno to make it 3-1.

A late goal from Rodrigo Muniz proved only to be a consolation as City closed the gap to just one point with table toppers Liverpool. With the win, Guardiola matched his own record for most games unbeaten as Man City manager (30 in 2017/18).

Pep Guardiola dismisses reporter’s claim that Fulham gave City a run for their money

The final score between Manchester City and Fulham may not do justice to what the visitors pulled off at the Etihad. From Adama Traore to Andreas Pereira and Raul Jimenez, Fulham forwards certainly had home fans at the edge of their seat on several occasions.

Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola did not think that Fulham made life difficult for his side (Via IMAGO)

Although poor finishing and missed chances cost them the game, Pep Guardiola himself stated that Traore is ‘unstoppable’ and impossible to control. However, the same feelings weren’t reflected when a reporter suggested that City had a difficult evening against The Whites. Guardiola didn’t look too pleased when the camera focused on him at full-time.

Tough? No. So easy. The chances they created were good and the game was also well played.

Pep Guardiola told the press

Another takeaway from the game was the fact that City fans held up a banner asking Guardiola to ‘stay’. Rumors state that Spaniard is in his final campaign at the club and may part ways at the end of the season. Fans also hailed the manager for ‘coaching’ Traore at full-time for his numerous missed chances against Ederson Moraes.