Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola have same thought after Man City risk backfires

Manchester City had to survive a Brentford onslaught in the second half but came away with three points in the Premier League

Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday that Rodri couldn't start three times in a week. He can't have been surprised then, that starting him twice before the week was over completely backfired.

Manchester City's key midfielder lasted only 20 minutes against Brentford before his hamstring went, the Spaniard limping off miserably with Guardiola not even appearing to give him a glance as Nico Gonzalez was hastily shoved onto the pitch as a replacement. One step forward, two steps back in an infuriating situation for everyone.

Fortunately for the Blues, that was their biggest frustration in another afternoon when Erling Haaland showed why he is the best in the world. Before Rodri's injury, City's No.9 had already bagged his 12th of the season by outwitting and outpowering his defender to get onto a Josko Gvardiol ball and slam in the opening goal.

That set the tone for a terrific first half where the only thing missing for Guardiola's side - apart from Rodri - was a second goal. Phil Foden had five attempts on goal, Tijjani Reijnders was denied an excellent finish by Caomhin Kelleher and Oscar Bobb tortured the Brentford defence whenever he got the ball.

City have been here before though. They led for long stretches at Brighton, Arsenal, and Monaco before late dropped points.

And from the moment the second half whistle began, it was like another game at the Gtech Stadium. Gianluigi Donnarumma bailed the team out after Gvardiol inadvertently played Igor Thiago through on goal, yet City sloppiness spread as belief began to surge around the home fans.

Guardiola became tetchy on the sidelines as Brentford started barraging the City defence in a way nobody saw coming in a first half dominated by the visitors. Having shown a tendency to wilt over the last year, could they change the game again and hang on this time?

It wasn't pretty, and Haaland was at the heart of the defence. He seemed to sense the Brentford danger more than most and drifted back to help out with the aerial bombardment from the home team that came. The other giant bookending the team, Gianluigi Donnarumma, was also key in that and in eking out some precious seconds for City to wind the clock down.

Haaland's comments in midweek about City not being good enough to see out the Monaco game certainly made headlines, and Guardiola seemed pained when asked to publicly defend them.

But the best way to back up your comments is on the pitch, and Haaland led by example in West London. As City earned a goal kick in injury time, the Norwegian came together with his manager to demand Donnarumma sent the ball over their way.

City do not know when they will be able to rely on Rodri. A fit and fired-up Haaland will get the team a long way though.

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