Guardiola: I prefer to win this way, and it is difficult to control Haaland

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola appeared in press statements after beating Brentford 2-1 in the fourth round of the Premier League.

The coach said: “I am the most Thomas Frank fans: “I don't remember in eight or nine years that we had a team that played the way they did and we were lucky to get away because they deserved to go 1-0 up.”

He added: “We struggled a lot in reading when to shoot and press. We were lucky to find goals, but in the second half we were better and perhaps we deserved to score more goals.”

He stressed: “We needed what happened today to feel how difficult everything is, and how difficult the English Premier League is in every match.”

He continued: “People say that Manchester City is very strong.” But the Premier League is very difficult. Today was the real proof.”

He continued: “I am a big fan of Brentford. They play long balls but they have the ability to play as well. I give a lot of credit to the players, where we have come from in the past but they are still able to struggle. I would rather win this way than four or five clean goals. We need that.”

On Haaland, he concluded: “It is very difficult to control Erling in empty spaces. It's been a tough week for him (due to the death of a family friend), but yesterday it was a bit better, we tried to help him."