MAN CITY 1, FEYENOORD 0
A late goal from Raheem Sterling extended Manchester City remarkable winning run to 17 games as they scraped past Dutch champions Feyenoord to guarantee top spot in group F.
It looked as though City were destined to be held to a goalless draw until Sterling’s late intervention in what was a decidedly poor performance from City.
Manager Pep Guardiola’s decision to make seven changes clearly disrupted the rhythm as City lacked their usual fluency as they never hit anything approaching top gear.
Not only was it flat on the pitch but also in the stands as the fans were subdued and also failed to lift their team.
Guardiola admitted his side could have done better, but Guardiola understood why his players failed to hit recent heights.
He said: “It is difficult when you win a lot of games and have qualified, and that is normal.
“We still won with a fantastic goal from Raheem following a great pass from (Ilkay) Gundogan.”
Guardiola pointed to the fact this was the first time City had won a group phase in the Champions League.
“We have 15 points and will try to win our last game at Shakhtar Donetsk to finish well”
There was praise for Sterling who scored his 11th goal of the season with Guardiola declaring “he is still young and can improve”.
Guardiola also praised the club’s Academy after teenagers Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz were handed their Champions League debut.
He continued: “A big congratulations to the Academy of which the club can be very proud that two players aged 17 and 18 made their first appearances in the Champions League.
“If the result had been more clear, they would have played more minutes. They are young talent and our squad is not too big so we will see what happens.
“I put them on the field, but credit to their managers and team mates as they are responsible for them playing today.”
Guardiola, already assured of a place in the knockout phase, made seven changes from the side that started at Leicester City on Saturday.
But it was still a side that contained 11 full internationals including front men Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne.
There was insurance on the bench in the form of Gabriel Jesus, David Silva and Fernandinho.
Guardiola still found space to give Foden, who was England’s star man as they won the FIFA U17 World Cup a first senior call, as he was named one of the seven substitutes along with Brahim Diaz, another rising star.
Feyenoord, with no hopes of even progressing to the Europa League, fielded a weakened side with star striker Nicolai Jorgensen on the bench through illness as the Dutch side were clearly prioritising their domestic fixtures.
It was a lukewarm opening with City enjoying the bulk of possession without doing anything with it. And it took until the 20th minute before they had their first shot on target when Aguero fired straight at keeper Brad Jones.
Feyenoord’s vociferous 3,000 following did its best to lift the visitors, but the atmosphere was decidedly flat.
They came close to snatching a surprise lead after a bad touch by Ederson let in Jean-Paul Boetius, but the keeper recovered to force him away from goal.
Aguero headed over and Sterling’s shot was fisted to safety by Jones, but it was pretty lack-lustre from City.
City had a let off when Steven Berghuis cut the ball back to Sam Larsson who fired narrowly wide with Ederson beaten.
De Bruyne and Aguero both blazed over early in the second half as Guardiola sat, arms folded in frustration, as City lacked a spark.
City made their first change midway through the half when De Bruyne was replaced by Jesus. He had just collected a booking that will keep him out of the last group game.
The nearest they came to a goal came mid half when Yaya Toure crashed a free kick from 25 yards couple of feet wide.
Ederson saved City when he turned over a shot from Berghuis as Feyenoord opened City’s defence.
Guardiola handed a debut to Foden with 15 minutes left when he replaced Toure to become City’s youngest player in the Champions League at 17 years and 177 days.
The breakthrough belatedly came after 88 minutes when Gundogan played a sumptuous through ball to release Sterling who lifted the ball over Jones from eight yards into the roof of the net.
City sent on Diaz, who had previously played in the EFL Cup, in the last minute for Sterling as the fans got an exciting glimpse into the future as the two starlets were given their chance.