The Blues returned to winning ways against the Tigers with Raheem Sterling and David Silva in particular coming under journalists’ focus.
Paul Wilson in The Guardian writes: “A vastly improved second-half performance by Raheem Sterling was the key to Manchester City’s emphatic victory, with the winger staying out wide to find space on the right after the interval, where his pace swiftly provided the penetration that had previously been lacking.
“Sterling kept coming inside in the first half, performing so anonymously that he was in danger of being upstaged by the contribution of Jesús Navas joining the attack behind him.
“But for an own goal the home side might not have turned round in front, yet any Hull hopes of getting back into the game were quickly extinguished when Sterling began to make his presence felt.”
Richard Jolly in The National continues the theme: “It was style and statistical achievement in harmony, the unusual alliance that has underpinned Pep Guardiola’s managerial career. A milestone goal was brought up with a snapshot of his ethos.
“Manchester City found the net for the 100th time under the Catalan after a move spanning the length and width of the pitch, featuring 20 passes and all 11 players.
‘The second goal is the big example of what we would like to be,’ said Guardiola. ‘I don’t like the defenders to just defend and the strikers just to score goals. I like everybody involved in the way we want to play.’
“Footballing defenders, a passing goalkeeper and a prolific striker all played their parts. An injection of incision came from City’s classiest distributor. David Silva’s 300th game for the club was not garnished with his 50th goal, but it was decorated in trademark fashion by the Spaniard’s speciality, the assist to the assist. He found Raheem Sterling, who crossed and Sergio Aguero tucked in his 10th goal in as many games.”
And before you start applying the sunscreen for the city’s hottest day of the year so far, a couple of transfer gossip snippets.
Caught Offside pick up on a story in The Sun suggesting the Blues are keeping tags on former United winger Wilfried Zaha.
They write: “City have reportedly added Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha to their list of transfer targets, but Pep Guardiola must battle with Tottenham.
“The 24-year-old has been in fine form this season for the Eagles, scoring six goals and providing nine assists in 27 Premier League outings as they continue to fight off the threat of relegation.
“In turn though, his form has attracted attention from elsewhere, and as detailed by The Sun, City have now joined the race for the £25m star while Tottenham have been admirers for some time and are said to have had bids rejected in the last two transfer windows.”
Finally, the Daily Star – among others – link the Blues with a move for one of Ligue 1’s most in-form hot-shots this season.
They write: “City have reportedly joined the race to sign Lyon star Alexandre Lacazette.
“Lacazette, 25, is currently enjoying a prolific season with Lyon. He has scored 30 goals in 37 appearances across all competitions for the French outfit this season.
“Arsenal have long been credited with interest in the striker.”
And that’s about all for today – more gossip and opinion tomorrow…
