Pep Guardiola refuses to discuss Kyle Walker and Neal Maupay bust-up in City win
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Pep Guardiola declined to talk about a heated altercation involving Kyle Walker and Brentford's Neal Maupay following Manchester City's 3-1 victory in the western region of London.
Walker became very angry at a comment that Maupay made to him towards the end of the game, and his manager had to calm him down. The captain of the City team was repeatedly teased by the fans at the stadium about his private life during the whole match.
Guardiola engaged in a lengthy conversation with French forward Maupay once the game ended. However, when he was asked about the discussion later on, Guardiola curtly replied with "Next question!"
After their triumph in west London, Guardiola seemed more content discussing Phil Foden's hat-trick success. This win, combined with Arsenal's victory over Liverpool on Sunday, places City just two points behind the Reds and with an extra game to play.
Brentford was the only squad to defeat City twice last year, and they were on track to complete a hat trick when Maupay scored the first goal. However, Foden managed to finally score past the excellent goalkeeper Mark Flekken of Brentford, and City equalized just before halftime.
The midfielder representing England scored the first goal in the beginning of the second half with a header, thanks to Kevin De Bruyne's pass. After this, he scored two more impressive goals to secure a hat-trick for himself and control the outcome of the game, giving his team the power to determine their own fate in the title race.
Guardiola mentioned a few weeks ago that Phil is exerting his greatest impact on the team. He is effectively analyzing the game, figuring out how to play strategically yet aggressively.
It brings him great joy to score goals and he poses a significant threat when he is near the 18-yard box. He is an outstanding player, having played over 250 games for City at a young age, which indicates the impact he has had since joining the team. He enjoys playing football and maintains a sense of amateur enthusiasm, like watching street players as a child. He loves playing, and his contribution to our team this season has been invaluable.
Regarding his agility in tight spaces, I have witnessed numerous skilled players, however, Phil's impact when he obtains the ball is exceptional. He possesses the ability to score and his potential to execute a precise pass is challenging to come across. His aptitude to maneuver in small pockets and abruptly transform into a threat, converting shots into goals, is an unmatched combination.
In the 21st minute, the Bees scored a goal that was reminiscent of the typical Brentford style of play.
Flekken said that he assisted the goal by kicking the ball towards Ivan Toney, who bumped into Nathan Ake. This way, the ball was able to bounce past Ake and Maupay was able to run forward without any obstacles. He calmly took a shot and scored his fifth goal of the year, beating Ederson.
The manager, Thomas Frank, expressed that they are aware of Ivan's strength in a particular area. Although they do not utilize it frequently, it proves to be useful when facing a team that is pressing. The manager gave credit to Mark, Ivan, and Neal for figuring it out independently.
The team we were playing against was alright, in my opinion. We did well in our performance. We performed many actions correctly.