17th October, 2017
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola felt his side’s 2-1 Champions League win over Napoli was a “perfect” performance against one of the best teams he has ever faced.
Billed as an encounter between the two most scintillating attacking sides in Europe, the game lived up to the hype, with goals from Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus earning an impressive City the victory.
Serie A leaders Napoli, who have won all eight of the games in the Italian top flight this season, were awarded two penalties in the game, with Ederson saving the first from Dries Mertens before Amadou Diawara scored the second.
“Today we won against an incredible team and to do that you have to make an incredible performance. If we hadn’t played at a very high level, we wouldn’t have won that game,” said Guardiola.
“They are one of the best teams I have ever faced, which is why I am so proud. It was perfect. It is impossible to beat them if you don’t make a good performance, and we did it, which is why I am so happy.
“I know before the game and now I know again, I am pretty sure they are one of the best teams in Europe at this moment.”
City have now won 10 successive matches in all competitions, matching their previous best run under Guardiola at the start of last season.
Their desire to play out from the back almost cost them on a couple of occasions but they held out for a win that leaves them top of Group F, three points clear of Shakhtar Donetsk, who won 2-1 at Feyenoord.