Pep Guardiola’s Start as Manchester City Boss Has Been Close to Perfect

There’s plenty of room for improvement, but Manchester City have won three games out of three under Pep Guardiola and look vastly superior to last season already.

They were somewhat disjointed on the opening day of the Premier League season but managed to narrowly defeat Sunderland, and that was followed by a comfortable 5-0 win over Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League, the club’s biggest-ever away win in Europe.

And their latest victory was their most impressive.

City have struggled in recent years to win away games against Stoke City, registering just one Premier League win. The muscular approach of the Tony Pulis era caused City problems, and last season they were taken apart with ease by Mark Hughes’ more cultured side—battered from start to finish in one of the most comprehensive, one-sided matches you’re likely to see.

The difference this season was stark. City weren’t perfect, and there was a five-minute period just before Stoke’s goal that saw them surrender possession too easily, putting themselves under unnecessary pressure, but the result was never really in danger.

City now fight harder when they lose the ball and show more purpose with it. Their quick, neat passing sees them leave opposition teams chasing shadows. Stoke were ran ragged at times by a team playing with a quick tempo and lots of movement.

45 touches in the opposition box for Man City – most of any team in a PL match so far this season pic.twitter.com/jvClEDbkDD

— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) August 20, 2016

Guardiola has had around a month with his new players, and although his work is nowhere near finished, the improvements are obvious. City are sharper and more inventive under his leadership.

The moment that perhaps sums up Guardiola’s approach most acutely came in the 81st minute. City were 2-1 up but struggling to produce the right pass in the final third that would add to their lead.

Guardiola, rather than instructing his side to sit deeper in an attempt to see out the game, brought on Kelechi Iheanacho, a fresh striker who could give the team some additional energy and urgency in the final third during the closing stages of the game.

Within minutes the 19-year-old had played a significant role in creating City’s third. Nolito’s goal put the game to bed, and it ensured the perfect start to Guardiola’s reign was maintained.

It was a bold move, but it was also the right move. City had largely controlled the game. Only a lack of poise in and around the area in the second half had seen …

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