Phil Foden and James McAtee stole the spotlight in Manchester City‘s dominant 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava in their UEFA Champions League clash on Tuesday. Early goals by Ilkay Gundogan and Foden set the tone for the reigning champions, with second-half strikes by Erling Haaland and McAtee securing the comfortable victory.
Foden, who not only scored but also provided the assist for McAtee’s first-ever goal for Manchester City, earned high praise from Pep Guardiola. After a slow start to the season due to fitness concerns, Foden is gradually returning to form. Guardiola expressed his satisfaction, saying: “He made a fantastic goal and he’s getting back to his best, step by step. Phil is really important for us.”
James McAtee, a product of the club’s academy, impressed after coming off the bench. Having spent time on loan at Sheffield United, the young talent is now looking to solidify his place in the City lineup. Guardiola spoke highly of McAtee, noting his teammates’ admiration and the forward’s ability to make an impact against defensively deep teams. Guardiola added, “He scored, had a few chances, and while he won’t be a regular starter, he’ll help us in many games.”
Another player to catch Guardiola’s eye was Rico Lewis, who started at right-back over regular captain Kyle Walker. Lewis contributed an assist and showcased his versatility, earning praise from his manager for his intelligence and strong play. “Rico is doing everything right. He’s smart and you can always count on him,” said Guardiola.
Despite Erling Haaland’s disappointment at being substituted after scoring his 42nd goal in 41 Champions League appearances, Guardiola emphasized the importance of managing his game time to avoid overburdening him, stating, “At 0-3, the game was nearly won, and we have to take care of him.”
With their first Champions League win of the season following a draw with Inter Milan, Guardiola was pleased with his team’s progress. “We created a lot of chances and are improving step by step. It was a good night.”
While Slovan Bratislava was outplayed by the Premier League giants, their coach Vladimir Weiss Sr acknowledged the occasion as a memorable one, despite the result. “It was beautiful. Unfortunately, the result wasn’t great, but we played against, in my opinion, the best team in the world.”
