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There are notorious examples of ’s fondness for exaggeration. Since he branded Matheus Nunes probably the greatest gamers on the planet, again in 2022 and when the Portuguese performed for Sporting CP, there was valuable little proof to help that assertion. Just lately, and extra damningly, Guardiola mentioned his £50m midfielder was not intelligent sufficient to play within the center for Manchester Metropolis.

However as a makeshift right-back, Nunes could have gone from a waste of cash to a person who earned Metropolis their slice of the tens of millions. He had arrange Nico O’Reilly’s late opener towards Everton on Saturday. He scored Metropolis’s even later winner towards , a 94th-minute decider giving them a four-point lead over rivals for a top-five end. The athleticism that makes Guardiola use Nunes as a full-back was obvious when he powered into the penalty space to transform Jeremy Doku’s low cross. “Matheus has the physicality when he has to run, he is ready to do it,” mentioned Guardiola. Nunes’ recognition within the dressing room was not the one purpose why the celebrations have been so emphatic. This might determine their destiny.

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It is not going to show Metropolis’s most celebrated 94th-minute objective right here; not when Sergio Aguero’s title decider towards QPR is factored in. Nor, certainly, their favorite winner towards Villa, given Ilkay Gundogan’s 2022 heroics. And but the significance might scarcely be underestimated. “Excellent timing,” mentioned Nunes. Not for Villa, so near a primary level on the Etihad since 2007. “To lose like that on that final motion is so irritating,” mentioned Youri Tielemans. The anguish of advised a story; so, too, the aid of Guardiola, who had lower a pissed off determine for a lot of the night time. “The season has been actually dangerous,” he mentioned. “We have now numerous stress for the membership to go to the Champions League.”

Stress was relieved, aided by one in all his choices. He left Phil Foden on the bench when bringing on Doku to run at Villa’s substitute right-back Axel Disasi and Nunes benefited. “Jeremy all the time offers you one thing,” Guardiola rationalised. “Jeremy is the very best participant on the planet within the first 5 metres.”

As soon as once more, he had known as one in all his 2023 recruits among the many most interesting on the planet. Metropolis’s recruitment after profitable the treble has lengthy appeared removed from superb and appeared a purpose for his or her regression. But two of the lads signed two years in the past mixed. Doku and Nunes amounted to greater than £100m between them. They reshaped the race for the final three Champions League spots, sending Metropolis third, protecting Villa seventh. With 4 video games to go and comparable run-ins, it is going to be onerous for them to overtake Metropolis now. And but their fifteenth successive league defeat on the Etihad Stadium got here when their supervisor had the ambition to get a winner. “I wouldn’t have been pleased with one level,” mentioned Emery, who ended up with none and felt his personal attacking substitutions contributed to the late drama.

Omar Marmoush was a handful for the hosts (Getty Photos)

There was early drama, too, and never merely as a result of Bernardo Silva struck within the seventh minute, ending from Omar Marmoush’s cutback. If Villa might rue the late objective, they need to remorse the early one, Emi Martinez solely pushing the Portuguese’s shot into the online when he ought to have saved it.

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But the breakthrough might have come nonetheless sooner. In between, a lot of the match revolved round a person returning to Manchester. scored from the spot, nearly made a extra explosive impression on his return to his dwelling city by hitting the woodwork inside 20 seconds and, after troubling final week, posed Metropolis issues. His capability to burst in behind their defence and evident sharpness confirmed what have been missing of their assault.

Rashford levelled from the spot (Getty Photos)

Emery had benched Ollie Watkins, regardless of Saturday’s star flip towards Newcastle, to recall Rashford. He promptly struck the put up after a go from Youri Tielemans. His fourth objective on the Etihad was a coolly transformed penalty. There was nearly a fifth, Rashford rounding Stefan Ortega within the second half however discovering the aspect netting from an acute angle. “I’m so, so pleased with him,” mentioned Emery. “He’s performing very nicely.” Rashford had tormented Paris Saint-Germain and troubled Metropolis. With a willingness to run in behind their defence, his sharpness was evident on his return to Manchester. The thought occurred that Manchester United might have benefited from such a ahead.

Rashford’s objective was extra controversial than it wanted to be. Ruben Dias clipped Jacob Ramsey in a high-speed collision as they ran in differing instructions. Referee Craig Pawson reviewed in on the monitor earlier than awarding the penalty. Guardiola was booked for disputing an accurate resolution.

The Manchester United loanee despatched Stefan Ortega the fallacious method (Getty Photos)

As two element obsessives confirmed their idiosyncrasies on the touchline, he couldn’t disguise his irritation whereas Emery, like a very animated mime artist, labored his method by way of quite a lot of gestures.

However Guardiola ended up joyful. He had benched Doku to start out James McAtee, who nearly capped the largest sport of his profession with a objective, from an audacious lob. He as a substitute unleashed the Belgian as an impression substitute. And this was a outcome with an impression that ought to stretch into subsequent season. For a fifteenth consecutive yr, Metropolis needs to be within the Champions League. “In fact it’s important,” mentioned Guardiola. “You don’t should be a scientist to grasp.” However the maths are actually higher for Metropolis.