Pep Guardiola reveals “huge list” of Brentford items that created ultimate challenge for Manchester City | OneFootball

Brentford possessed a “huge list” of attributes in their game that made Saturday afternoon’s contest against Manchester City so difficult for the Premier League champions.

The English top-flight’s leading club had to come from behind in order to maintain their 100 per cent winning record into a fifth matchday, following Yoane Wissa’s header from close range giving Brentford the lead inside 30 seconds.

A lapse of concentration inside the Manchester City saw Kyle Walker leave a man free at the back post from a lofted cross-field ball, before both John Stones and Ederson failed to clear the header across the face of the goal, leaving Wissa with the easiest of tasks.

Thankfully, Manchester City possess the greatest striker in world football, and in Erling Haaland the three points are never too far away. The Norwegian scored a quick-fire first-half brace to move his side back in front, as they saw out the remainder of the contest.

But after the game, Pep Guardiola and Manchester City were fully aware of the challenge that they were made to face, and the Catalan coach was hugely complimentary of the achievements and performance put in by the travelling Bees.

Speaking after the victory at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola explained, “The first-half, I don’t remember in nine years that played in the way that Brentford play in the first 20 or 30 minutes, and I give credit to them.

“We were not our best, it’s not easy to handle after not even one minute conceding a goal and this kind of things, it’s not easy to handle it. But they deserved to be maybe 0-2, or 0-3, I don’t know. Every time they had the ball, they created a chance.”

He continued, “I don’t remember a team that created in this time, in long balls winning duels, short passes they broke the lines, quick in the transitions, strong in every corner, every set-pieces.

“It’s an extraordinary team. We suffered from it since they were promoted in the Premier League, all the games against Brentford from Thomas (Frank) have been like that. I don’t remember an easy game; maybe last season there, when Phil (Foden) scored a hat-trick. But the rest have been so tight.

“And always I give credit because they are really good, not because we were bad. And sometimes you have to understand that the opponents are really good, and they are! But in the second-half we were lucky to be 2-1 up, so the second-half was our best and we created a lot of chances, and we could’ve scored more.”

When quizzed on what Brentford possess in their game plan that made life so difficult for Manchester City, Pep Guardiola continued by revealing his “huge list” of challenges faced by the Premier League champions when coming up against Thomas Frank’s set-up.

“I have a huge list to tell you. They are good in high-pressing. They are good in long-balls, second-balls. They defend deep so compact, allowing them to go outside and have spaces inside. The transitions with (Yoane) Wissa and (Bryan) Mbeumo – they are really, really good,” said Guardiola.

He continued, “This season even, when they make high-pressing, last season it was long balls to (Ivan) Toney, this season no. This season they play short passes, they break, they move inside, outside, and after they’re so quick.

“Set-pieces? Every corner is a headache. Every throw-in? In the final third it’s a headache. Every free-kick? Every department and all the things they do, they have a manager behind, it’s a manager.

“Sometimes you see a team and sometimes it’s whatever happens. What they do is always sense. Thomas (Frank) is one of the best!”

For Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, they will now turn their attentions over to UEFA Champions League action, and undertook a light session at the City Football Academy on Sunday in the typical north-west rain.

Inter Milan are the visitors to the Etihad on Wednesday night, as the two clubs open up their respective accounts in the brand new League Phase of Europe’s premier club competition, in which four matches will be played away and at home against differing opponents.