Pep Guardiola confessed he found it "impossible" to enjoy Manchester City's chaotic 5-4 victory away at Fulham, a result that closed the gap on league leaders Arsenal to just two points but saw his side almost surrender a four-goal lead.
A Nine-Goal Craven Cottage Thriller
The match at Craven Cottage was a Premier League classic, defined by a staggering collapse and a heroic fightback. City, seemingly in total control, raced into a 5-1 lead by the 54th minute, only for Fulham to stage a breathtaking revival that brought them within a single goal of an historic comeback.
The home side's resurgence was spearheaded by half-time substitute Samuel Chukwueze. The on-loan Nigerian international was instrumental, scoring twice and coming agonisingly close to inspiring a remarkable draw for Marco Silva's team.
Guardiola's Hair-Raising Experience
Speaking after the final whistle, a visibly relieved Guardiola admitted the tension of the closing stages was overwhelming. "Did you enjoy it? I lost my hair," the City manager said. "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."
He acknowledged his team's defensive frailties during Fulham's 21-minute, three-goal blitz, stating all the goals conceded came from "bad defending". Guardiola also had a pointed message for the media, suggesting premature conclusions about City's title credentials were unwise. "At 5-1 you thought it was finished. You had written your articles. Tomorrow: 'Manchester City are back … finally.' And after, to the trash."
Haaland's Historic Milestone
Amid the defensive chaos, a significant personal milestone was achieved. Erling Haaland opened the scoring after 17 minutes, a strike that made him the fastest player to reach 100 goals in Premier League history, achieving the feat in just 111 games.
Guardiola was effusive in his praise for the Norwegian striker. "For people up front it’s a question of numbers, and his numbers have no discussion," he said. "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."
Silva's Sanguine Reflection
Fulham manager Marco Silva praised his team's "impressive" character in mounting such a fightback but was critical of their slow start which allowed City to build an unassailable lead. "We have to do each match better quicker," Silva admitted. "We didn’t and, of course, they punished us."
The result leaves Manchester City firmly in the title race, but Guardiola's post-match comments reveal a manager acutely aware that such dramatic, nerve-shredding victories are unsustainable if they are to reclaim the Premier League crown.
