Pep Guardiola praises ‘unstoppable’ Man City after Napoli victory | OneFootball

Man City Shine as Guardiola Lauds Doku’s ‘Unstoppable’ Talent

Haaland’s Record-Breaking Night

Manchester City began their Champions League journey in typically commanding fashion, defeating Napoli 2-0 at the Etihad. The evening belonged not only to Erling Haaland, who set yet another milestone, but also to Jeremy Doku, whose fearless directness lit up the contest.

Haaland’s opener came after persistent pressure. Denied repeatedly by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in the first half, the Norwegian finally broke through in the 56th minute, nodding in a looping header from Phil Foden’s deftly clipped pass. In doing so, he became the fastest player ever to reach 50 goals in Europe’s elite competition, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy’s long-standing record.

Asked about the feat by TNT Sports, Pep Guardiola could only shrug. “Me neither. In the first half, he could have done it. Milinkovic-Savic is an unbelievable keeper making incredible saves,” he said, echoing the disbelief of interviewer Jules Breach, who admitted she had “no words” for Haaland’s relentless scoring.

Doku’s Explosive Contribution

If Haaland provided the landmark, Doku supplied the flourish. Just 10 minutes after the opener, the Belgian winger surged into the box, skipping past defenders with balletic agility before tucking the ball neatly beyond Milinkovic-Savic.

Photo IMAGO

“In the smaller spaces, five metres, he is unstoppable,” Guardiola told TNT Sports afterwards. “When he cuts inside and attacks central defenders, he can dribble and trouble the keeper. He was really good.”

Doku’s goal effectively sealed victory against the Serie A champions, who had been reduced to 10 men following Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s red card for denying Haaland a clear chance in the first half.

De Bruyne’s Return Halted

There was also intrigue in Kevin De Bruyne’s brief return to face his former club, the Belgian midfielder found himself sacrificed before half-time. Manager Antonio Conte introduced Mathias Olivera to strengthen a defence already under siege, a decision that cut short any notion of a fairytale reunion.

Conte admitted afterwards that he “felt” for De Bruyne, who appeared less than thrilled with the change. The episode was a reminder that sentiment has little room in nights of such high stakes.

Statement of European Intent

For Guardiola’s side, this was the kind of authoritative start that has come to define their recent European campaigns. Haaland breaking records, Doku proving “unstoppable,” and City displaying depth even without exerting full control — it was a night that set the tone. Man City, once again, look ominously well-equipped for the battles ahead.