Pep Guardiola says Manchester City have 'taken a step forward' despite losing to AC Milan

admin July 28, 2024

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Pep Guardiola says Manchester City have 'taken a step forward' despite losing to AC Milan

Pep Guardiola says his Manchester City team was better than their first game despite losing to AC Milan before the season.

The Premier League champions lost 3-2 to Serie A side New York, a few days after losing to Scottish champions Celtic.

Erling Haaland scored again to give his team the lead after being found by Oscar Bobb.

Lorenzo Colombo equalized for Milan and put them ahead just before the break.

James McAtee headed home in the second half to level things at 2-2 but Marco Nasti scored the winner on the edge of the AC Milan box.

After the game Guardiola said: “We were better than the first game.

“It was a step forward – no injuries, minutes in our legs, another test – and now we fly to another game in a few days.

FULL TIME | Fun duel ⚔️

🩵 2-3 🔴 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/oQcVrvc7bX

— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 28, 2024

Villa lost

Elsewhere, Aston Villa were beaten 4-1 by Columbus Crew in the US.

Emiliano Buendia made his long-awaited return as he has been sidelined since last August due to a knee injury.

Unai Emery said: “The best news is his return.

“The return of Emiliano Buendia after one year.

“We are happy with his return and we have to work with him now trying to get the best out of him going forward.

“The first 30 minutes he played were, in fact, good for us and the team.”

New signings Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen both got their first minutes for the Villans, but did not come on until they were 4-1 down.

Emery added: “Yes, the result is not good but, for us, now the result is not the most important thing.

“The most important thing is to build a team, get information about the players, and this was the first game for some players, they played well. Even if they lost, they played well.”

Full time in Columbus. pic.twitter.com/L9aCFPVIaB

– Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 28, 2024

They lowered the hammers

Julen Lopetegui was beaten 3-1 by his former club Wolves in Florida.

Stormy weather temporarily halted play but it didn't take long for Matheus Cunha to put the Midlands side ahead.

Mohammed Kudus equalized before Rodrigo Gomes scored to give Wolves a 3-1 victory.

Cunha is out injured and Gary O'Neil says the Brazilian has been feeling pain in his knee.

He said: “He [Cunha] he felt a slight pain behind his knee.

“It's disappointing. Since the game is delayed and the field is wet, they work hard and are well tuned, so it doesn't take much to throw them.

“Matheus is incredibly important to us, but the early signs don't look bad. He will not be put in danger again until he is fully recovered, so in the next few days I will be able to give an update.”

Lopetegui replaced David Moyes as West Ham manager this summer and admitted there is a lot of work to be done in the remainder of pre-season.

He said: “There is a lot of work that we have to do in front of us.”