Pep Guardiola delighted with Manchester City forward after first goal in 161 days | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was pleased to see Omar Marmoush return to the scoresheet after over five months in a 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Swansea City.

Marmoush gave the Blues a crucial 2-1 lead in the second-half before Rayan Cherki, who set the Egyptian for his goal, added a third in injury time for City, who will face Brentford in the Carabao Cup quarter-final after seeing off the Swans in Wales on Wednesday evening.

City have been worryingly over-reliant on Haaland to score this season and arguably since Julian Alvarez left for Atletico Madrid last summer – and club executives did not sign a like-for-like replacement for the 25-year-old Argentinian forward, who was a huge success in his two seasons at the Etihad Stadium.

Haaland’s goals have been the be-all and end-all of Manchester City’s goals this season and Guardiola – as well as several senior first-team players – have called for others in attack and midfield to start pulling their weight to alleviate the burden on Haaland’s shoulders – as capable as the Norwegian is.

Marmoush returned to the starting XI against Swansea City on Wednesday after coming off the bench in his side’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa at the weekend. The 26-year-old scored a crucial goal to complete City’s turnaround with a brilliant strike at the near post in the roof of Andy Fisher’s net – marking his first goal for City in 161 days.

“I’m happy for Omar (Marmoush) because strikers need goals and for his confidence it will be important, but he’s been injured a long time and of course can play in the position from Erling (Haaland),” said Guardiola in an interview with Manchester City’s official channels after the win.

“Erling (Haaland) is important, but of course we know we need them both and having (Omar) back is so nice. We have incredible deliveries with Phil (Foden) and especially with Rayan Cherki and Nico Gonzalez, who is day by day getting better.”

Guardiola was quick to applaud Manchester City’s senior players who came off the bench against Swansea City in the second-half and helped see off the win. The Catalan added: “And (it) is now fundamental for us. But all of them, the ones who came off the bench, John (Stones), Josko (Gvardiol), Phil – everyone was really good.

“They (Swansea) started really well. I think we started with a really good tempo. Really good. We were not flat, but they were better. So in this competition the first minutes the home team they make a boost, and they deserved a goal.

“They played impressively, I would say. But after 20-25 minutes, we take the game. We arrive, we had our chances and the second half I was really impressed with attack against 10 players in that position, everyone was there. Everyone was perfect in the right moments. 

“We were close to avoid transitions; second half was really good. We had chances, just missed again the last pass, the last shot. Phil in the final third, we didn’t finish, Oscar (Bobb) arrived.

“I don’t know how many times, but I’m really pleased for the game because I know how difficult it is away and we are in the quarter-finals.”

Guardiola will be relieved to see his side return to winning ways after a minor setback against Aston Villa on Sunday, as Manchester City embark upon a tricky run of games against Bournemouth, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool in the next 10 days.