WATFORD 0, MANCHESTER CITY 6
Manchester City have scored 15 goals in just three games over the space of a week after thrashing Watford 6-0 today with Sergio Aguero hitting a hat trick while notching up his 200th club goal in Europe and closing to within two goals of Eric Brook’s all time scoring record for City.
Six goals at Vicarage Lane added to four at Feyenoord and five at home against Liverpool last Saturday but while City manager Pep Guardiola was pleased with the scoreline there was a hint of offside about half of the goals against Watford.
He said: “We played really good. It’s always complicated after a Champions League game away, and we had Watford away who were unbeatable until now with a top manager who showed what he could do with Hull last season.
“What’s more important is the way we played and I am delighted with the players. After the first 30 minutes against Liverpool, the second half of the game away at Rotterdam and today we were so good.”
Guardiola was delighted for Aguero’s goal haul today, which left him two short of City’s all-time goal scorer Eric Brook, and said: “Hat tricks are not easy so all credit to him but I am so happy that Sergio showed he could score a goal dribbling against one or two players.”
It will be hoped that Aguero will be able to match or beat Brook’s record by the time Crystal Palace visit the Etihad next week and that City would mark the occasion in some way.
“It will be soon.” agreed Guardiola. “Hopefully we can make a good celebration. He’s a legend and part of the history of the club.”
Although Guardiola would normally have taken a dim view on small details like penalty takers being changed during the game, he was willing to overlook it when Raheem Sterling took the penalty that handed City their sixth goal at Watford.
“With 0-5 yes.” admitted Guardiola. “I understand that Ras created the penalty and Sergio showed again what a good guy he is.”
“Hopefully we can keep that team spirit and it doesn’t matter who plays.” said Guardiola.
A feast of goals at Vicarage Road as City reclaim top spot in the Premier League
Despite hinting recently that squad rotation would come into play, Guardiola decided to make just one change at Watford with Raheem Sterling coming in for Bernardo Silva from the team that blitzed Feyenoord.
Sergio Aguero started the rout with a header from Kevin De Bruyne’s free kick, followed by a tap-in after David Silva’s square pass, before turning provider for Gabriel Jesus for a third City goal before the break.
After half time a brief Watford rally was quashed when David Silva’s cross was headed in by Nicolas Otamendi and Aguero went on a mazy run before poking the ball past Gomes and in off the back post.
With a hat trick in the bag the Argentine was generous once again and allowed Raheem Sterling to dispatch a penalty to complete the rout after the City winger was brought down although Guardiola seemingly didn’t like the improvisation – hinting that goal difference could be a factor at the business end of the season next year – before letting Sterling emphatically get on the score sheet from the spot kick to complete a wonderful day for the travelling fans.
Victory has meant that City could well top the table at the end of the weekend with Manchester United requiring a feast of goals against a shaky Everton side to reclaim top spot from their cross-town rivals.