Phil Foden and James McAtee have received high praise from Pep Guardiola following Manchester City’s commanding 4-0 victory over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League. The match saw early goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Foden give City a strong lead, with Erling Haaland and McAtee adding to the scoreline in the second half.
Guardiola singled out Foden for his performance, highlighting his crucial role in the team and his growing form after a slow start to the season due to fitness issues. The manager commended Foden’s goal contribution and overall importance to the team. McAtee, a product of City’s academy, also impressed Guardiola after coming off the bench to score and showcase his potential.
Rico Lewis, who started as right-back ahead of Kyle Walker, caught Guardiola’s eye with an outstanding display, earning praise for his versatility, strength, and intelligence on the field. Despite being substituted shortly after scoring, Haaland’s impact was acknowledged by Guardiola, who emphasized the need to manage the striker’s workload carefully.
Reflecting on the match, Guardiola expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and progression in the competition. He lauded the players for creating numerous chances and highlighted the team’s continuous improvement. While Slovan Bratislava may have been outclassed by City, coach Vladimir Weiss Sr. appreciated the experience of facing one of the best teams in the world, acknowledging the challenge of playing against City’s stellar lineup.
Overall, Guardiola was pleased with the team’s display and the positive outcome, marking City’s first win in the Champions League this season. Despite the one-sided nature of the game, both teams found value in the experience, with Guardiola’s City showing their dominance and Slovan Bratislava relishing the opportunity to compete at that level.