MANCHESTER, KOMPAS.com - Manajer Manchester City , Josep "Pep" Guardiola, memuji Burnley seusai timnya memastikan diri lolos ke babak keempat Piala FA , Sabtu (6/1/2018). Dia juga memuji Sergio Aguero yang memecah kebuntuan The Citizens - julukan Manchester City.
Bermain di Stadion Etihad, Manchester City berhasil menyisihkan Burnley dengan kemenangan 4-1. Padahal, mereka sempat tertinggal 0-1 di babak pertama lewat gol Ashley Barnes pada menit ke-25.
Namun, dua gol Sergio Aguero pada menit ke-56 dan ke-58 membalikkan keadaan menjadi 2-1. Dua gol lain disumbangkan Leroy Sane (71') dan Bernardo Silva (82').
"Melawan Burnley adalah hasil undian berat. Apa yang mereka lakukan di Premier League sejauh ini luar biasa," kata Guardiola seperti dilansir BolaSport.com dari Twitter resmi Man City.
(Baca juga: Jose Mourinho Salahkan Anak Gawang Soal Buruknya Performa Manchester United di Kandang, Mengapa? )
"Semua yang kami butuhkan di laga tersebut yaitu fokus dan berusaha memenangi pertandingan. Kami berhasil melakukannya di babak kedua," ucap dia.
Guardiola juga menyatakan kepuasaannya dengan penampilan Sergio Aguero melawan Burnley. Dua golnya pada babak kedua memudahkan Man City untuk dapat memastikan kemenangan.
"Kedua gol yang diciptakan Aguero luar biasa, cerdas dan cepat. Saya senang dengan kedua gol yang dicetaknya," ujar Guardiola.
Hasil ini menjaga tren positif Manchester City yang belum terkalahkan dalam 26 pertandingan domestik di Inggris. Mereka berkesempatan besar untuk meraup empat gelar dalam satu musim karena masih berpeluang juga di liga, Liga Champions, dan Piala Liga.
Tengah pekan ini pasukan Pep Guardiola akan berhadapan dengan Bristol City pada semifinal pertama Piala Liga. (Wisnu Nova)
The quadruple remains very much on as Sergio Aguero inspired a second half fight back to send Manchester City cruising into the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Trailing at half time to Ashley Barnes’ strike, City were back to their irresistible best in a thrilling second 45 minutes.
Two goals from Aguero put them in control, before Leroy Sane and substitute Bernardo Silva completed a 4-1 win against Sean Dyche’s men.
And so the impossible dream goes on in what is an incredible campaign for Pep Guardiola's side.
Some 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League, into the semi finals of the Carabao Cup and the last 16 of the Champions League, City’s manager remains adamant they won’t complete a clean sweep.
But even he gave the clearest hint that he is beginning to think otherwise by naming a starting XI that featured seven of what could be considered his strongest team.
John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Fernandinho, David Silva, Raheem Sterling, Sane and Aguero represented a statement of intent from him.
Even if he thinks four trophies are beyond his side - he’s not going to stop trying.
And how that paid off in a scintillating second half when City sprung into life blitzed a Burnley side, who might just have been thinking about achieving the impossible themselves.
Stick with us as we bring you all the build up, team news and score updates LIVE from the Etihad.
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Claudio Bravo
Beaten at his near post for the goal, but it would have taken some stopping - worse was his nervous pass out of play for a corner. 5
Danilo
Defended well in the first half and became a real attacking threat in the second - his run and pass led to Sane's killer third goal. 7
John Stones
Agricultural hack at the ball let in Barnes for Burnley's goal, but unlike last season he did not let the error affect him, and he negotiated the rest of the game well. 5
Nicolas Otamendi
Has taken on the mantle of City's main passer out of defence, a sure sign of how much he has improved in the last year. 7
Aleks Zinchenko
He was neat without taking risks, and was possibly subbed when Burnley repeatedly tried to take advantage of his naivety as a defensive left back. 6
Ilkay Gundogan
Was too anonymous in the first half, but his two passes for Aguero's goals were top-class - the first sharp-minded and the second instinctive brilliance. 8
Fernandinho
A steadying, driving force throughout, City's Mr Reliable was both defensive rck and creative wellspring. Such an important player. 8
David Silva
Given the problems in his private life, his concentration and commitment to excellence is unwavering. Constantly drove City forward and the pass for Sane's goal was perfect 9
Raheem Sterling
Did his job by staying wide but had limited impact on the game other than freeing space for Sane on the other side. 6
Sergio Aguero
Just when things seem to be going wrong for him, he produced two moments of goal-getting excellence to turn the game around. 8
Leroy Sane
His end product was not great in a busy first half and got worse - but then he found his scoring boots to claim the killer third goal and teed up Bernardo for the decorative fourth. 7
Subs
Kyle Walker
(for Zinchenko 72) Shored things up 6
Kevin De Bruyne
(for Gundogan 76) Brilliant pass for 4th 7
Bernardo Silva
(for Aguero 79) Took his goal well 7
Not used: Ederson, Mangala, Toure, Diaz
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Pep Guardiola apologised for his touchline row with Sean Dyche as emotions threatened to boil over in Manchester City’s 4-1 win against Burnley.
Dyche was furious after Sergio Aguero levelled the scores after half time of their FA Cup third round tie.
It sparked row between him and Guardiola that required fourth official Andy Haines to intervene.
City’s manager later explained: “I am sorry. I said please leave the referees.
“I am sorry, I apologise. I didn’t want to lose control.
“I said please leave the referees. It wasn’t for Sean Dyche.
“I have a lot of respect for the way they play.
“Of course, the way they play is completely different than the way we want to play, but they do it perfectly. That’s why football is top.
“I think all the managers around the world, especially here, have to do their job.
“Of course, they have to keep control. If they were offended I am so sorry.”
Dyche was quick to play down the incident, saying: "You both fight, you both want to win. That's how it should be."
City’s quadruple pursuit remains on as Aguero inspired a second half fight back to send them into the fourth round.
Trailing at half time to Ashley Barnes’ strike, City were back to their irresistible best in a thrilling second 45 minutes.
Two goals from Aguero put them in control, before Leroy Sane and substitute Bernardo Silva completed a 4-1 win against Dyche’s men.
“I am so happy - it was a tough draw,” added Guardiola. “What he (Dyche) has done is amazing.
“We said at half time we only needed one goal. They’re a top team, but try to win the game and we did it in the second half.
“We want to continue in this prestigious competiton. How they reacted was strong - you cannot do that if you do not have a good mentality.
“We have the Champions League in one month - it’s how you react.”
