‘Everyone’s together in this’ – Marc Guehi praises Man City’s united front
Marc Guehi hailed Manchester City’s unity in the face of adversity after a spirited fightback in the club’s first home match since being found guilty of multiple breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.
City were beaten 4-2 by Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday but only after a rousing response to being swatted aside 3-0 by the holders in the first half at the Etihad Stadium.
It was a night when City showed their defiance in the face of the last month’s damning verdict by an independent commission, which found the club had broken Premier League rules.
Former manager Pep Guardiola was in attendance in a strong show of support for the under-fire hierarchy, who have appealed against the judgement, while fans unveiled a huge ‘City Til I Die’ tifo to make underline their loyalty.
A ferocious atmosphere threatened to fall flat as PSG produced a clinical first-half display but it was reenergised after the break as City produced enough chances – including hitting the woodwork twice – to threaten an unlikely comeback.
Defender Guehi said: “I think the support that we’ve had from the fans and the football club has been fantastic and everyone’s definitely together in this.
“I think it says a lot about, not just the players, but the football club in general. It’s very easy when adversity comes to focus on that, but everyone’s been focused on what’s in front of them, which is the games.
“As long as we carry on playing like we did in the second half and training well, things will look positive for us.”
City were ripped apart by the back-to-back champions in the first half, with quickfire goals from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele establishing control.
The game seemed all but over when Vitinha made it 3-0 with 32 minutes gone but a triple substitution by Enzo Maresca at the break sparked a chaotic second period.
Erling Haaland struck twice – becoming City’s record Champions League goalscorer in the process with 38 from 41 appearances – while also hitting the crossbar and seeing Enzo Fernandez denied by the post.
But the task was to prove just beyond City as PSG claimed a fourth when a Maghnes Akliouche effort squeezed past a despairing Gianluigi Donnarumma. Former City striker Ferran Torres also missed a late penalty for the visitors.
Guehi said: “Playing at home, it’s not really acceptable, that performance in the first half, in front of our home fans, so I’m just really glad everyone reacted in a positive manner and at least came out fighting.
“For the first goals, they were just a bit more aggressive, won a lot of the one-v-one duels, which allowed them the platform to go score those goals.
“But the second half was the complete opposite. We were a lot more aggressive, won a lot more of the duels, which gave us the platform.
“It was positive and I think if we played that for the rest of the season, we’ll win a lot of games.
“It’s only the beginning of the competition. Hopefully we can learn from this and put in better performances in future games.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub