Pep Guardiola singled out Julian Alvarez for particular appreciation after Manchester City’s 2-1 victory away at Fulham on Sunday. The result of that game placed City back on top of the Premier League standings. Erling Haaland added another notch to an already impressive debut season with Manchester City.
Even though City were dealt a setback when Kevin de Bruyne was ruled out with an injury, they were still able to win thanks to the combination of Haaland and Alvarez. Even though City were dealt a setback, they still won.
As a result of Haaland’s penalty kick goal in the third minute of play, he tied the record held by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole for most goals scored in a single league season with 34, and he became the first top-flight player in England to score 50 goals throughout all competitions in a single season since 1931.
But it was Alvarez, who was fouled for the penalty, who clinched the points with a magnificent effort in the 36th minute. The Argentine sent a stunning right-foot drive high beyond Fulham keeper Bernd Leno. Alvarez was the player who was fouled for the penalty.
Alvarez, who is 23 years old and has played mostly in the role of a substitute this season, has scored eight goals in the league and is proving to be a useful alternative for Guardiola.
“I’d want to offer my congratulations to Erling. According to Guardiola, the finest goals that will assist us in achieving what we desire are still there.
“Every time Julian plays, he gives us all he has. That’s just the way it is. He helped set up the penalty, and then he scored the game-winning goal in amazing fashion. A formidable weapon indeed is one that has not one but two strikers.
“To play almost all of the games to be world champions with Argentina, where there are thousands of talented footballers, and to be able to play there is because he has something,” he said. “To be able to play there is because he has something.”
Alvarez is making a case for more frequent starts, something Guardiola believes should be considered, given that City’s offensive options are the envy of practically every other manager in the world.
“It is helping me a lot to understand that in the future I can adjust something to make them both and Kevin (De Bruyne) play,” Guradiola continued. “It is helping me a lot to understand that in the future I can adjust something to make them all play.” “That’s important, especially in games that are close.”
“It’s not just about the goal and the penalty; it’s also about maintaining pressure and keeping possession of the ball.”
City enters the month of May on top of the Premier League, with a matchup against Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League, and also with a matchup against Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
This implies that there are eight games in the next month that might potentially secure a rare treble. Up next is a match on Wednesday against West Ham United.
“My only concern now is how we recover,” Guardiola said. “My only concern now is how we recover.” “We play once every three days, but that’s to be expected when you’re competing in three different tournaments. When a team wins games, it helps them heal from injuries more quickly.