Pep Guardiola admitted he couldn’t enjoy Manchester City’s chaotic 5-4 victory over Fulham, despite closing the gap on Arsenal. City surrendered a significant lead, making the win a nerve-wracking experience for the manager.
City led 5-1 before Fulham launched a dramatic fightback, scoring three goals in 21 minutes. Substitute Samuel Chukwueze was a key figure in Fulham’s surge, nearly completing a historic comeback before City secured the points.
Guardiola expressed frustration with the team’s defensive errors and praised Erling Haaland for becoming the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals. Fulham manager Marco Silva acknowledged his team’s character but rued their slow start.
City seemed destined for a comfortable win after racing to a commanding 5-1 lead after 54 minutes at Craven Cottage.
However, the home side launched an “extraordinary fightback,” netting three times in a 21-minute spell. Two of Fulham’s goals were scored by half-time substitute Samuel Chukwueze.
Guardiola was visibly stressed by the dramatic second half. When questioned about the match, he stated: “Did you enjoy it? I lost my hair.”
He further elaborated on his anxiety as the lead diminished, saying: “It was impossible for me to enjoy it. At 5-1 maybe, but at 5-4 I was watching the clock more than the game. It was tough…”
City’s victory was anchored by a historic moment for Erling Haaland, who opened the scoring after 17 minutes. In the process, the striker became the fastest player to reach 100 goals in Premier League history.
Guardiola was full of praise for his record-breaking forward: “When he arrived, if you told me he would score 100 in 111 games I would say are you sure? In this league? And he did it. The milestones are insane.”
A sanguine Fulham manager Marco Silva “saluted the ‘impressive’ character of his side” for the comeback effort but was critical of their early lapses, noting, “We have to do each match better quicker. We didn’t and, of course, they punished us.”