"Repeatedly on Saturday, Guardiola said elements of the performance against West Ham were "not good" and that his team "must improve." But as he was delivering the message, the City boss was happy to joke with one reporter about a Christmas jumper he didn't like, and he laughed that his animated on-field debrief with defender Josko Gvardiol was about "the beaches in Croatia.""
"Guardiola knows what it takes to win a title, and he couldn't look more relaxed about the situation he's in. It was mirrored on the pitch when the City's players celebrated Erling Haaland's first goal by doing the robot to mimic Rayan Cherki's attempt after he scored against Brentford three days earlier. After beating Crystal Palace, Brentford and West Ham in the space of seven days -- all without conceding a goal -- City are on a run of seven wins in a row."
Manchester City beat West Ham 3-0 while elements of the performance were described as "not good" and the team told it "must improve." Criticism arrived alongside relaxed behavior, including joking about a Christmas jumper and an on-field debrief framed as being about "the beaches in Croatia." Players showed confidence, celebrating Erling Haaland's opener by doing the robot in imitation of Rayan Cherki. City won three matches in seven days without conceding and are on a seven-game winning run, a streak last achieved at the end of 2023-24 when they secured a fourth consecutive league title. Arsenal sit two points clear after beating Everton but have been chased down by City in previous Decembers.
Read at ESPN.com
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