Pep Guardiola has admitted Manchester City are not starting the season at their best level but that his team behaved like champions as they began their Premier League title defence with a 2-0 win at Chelsea.
Guardiola revealed after the match he was not expecting such a good performance, given that City were missing key midfielder Rodri from the squad, while the likes of Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Nathan Ake were all on the substitutes' bench after returning late for pre-season following UEFA EURO 2024.
"I didn't expect it. We are away from our best so three points is the good news," Guardiola told Sky Sports. "The bad news is we have 65 games ahead of us!
"We have an advantage, it's our ninth season together so we know each other well. Of course, there are mistakes you have to improve but we talked, the difference in being champions was our body language, how did we behave?
"It's the bad moments in the season and in the games that define the big teams. For me, it is an honour to be in charge of these guys. I'm so fortunate, I could not say more.
“If you are the best team in England for 38 games, you are going to defend the crown. We have to behave like we were, a champion team. Especially in the bad moments, I like to see that."
Erling Haaland, the Premier League's top scorer in 2022/23 and 2023/24, registered his first goal of the season in the 2-0 win, and Guardiola says the Norwegian is starting the campaign in good condition after racking up 91 goals in only 100 appearances for City in all competitions.
“I had the feeling that he feels better than last season at this stage,” said Guardiola. "Always he felt tired but with the Euros not being there, he is rested and feels good.
“The goal was magnificent. His contribution was defensively and in midfield too.
“These are numbers like [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo, that controlled everything in the last decade. His numbers are that level. To do that in this country is unbelievable.”
Bobb out until 2025
Guardiola did, however, confirm some bad news for City, with winger Oscar Bobb set to be unavailable until next year due to a fractured leg sustained in training this week.
“Oscar Bobb will probably be out until January," Guardiola told ViaPlay. “We will welcome him with open arms when he is back. This win is for him!"
