City left Stamford Bridge comfortable 3-1 winners having blown the home side away in a devastating first half in which Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne scored.
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Callum Hudson-Odoi netted a 90th minute consolation for Chelsea, who had no answer to Guardiola’s side’s attacking prowess.
City outclassed the hosts in the first half before comfortably closing out the game after the break and it was the manner of the victory which delighted the boss, who belives this performance is the blueprint for his team’s success.
“We played really well,” said Guardiola at his post-match press conference.
“I say thank you to all the players in this difficult time because friends, players and backroom staff are suffering with COVID-19.
“They make a step forward and they make an incredible display against one of the best teams in England. A good result for us to be close to the top of the league.
“The important thing today is not just the result but especially the way we play. We understand each other. The players played really well.
“We have known each other for a long time. We cannot make big transitions. Raheem can do it, maybe Kevin, but no more.
“We need to play one tempo. There are teams who play with incredible transitions but we can’t play that way. We are not good in that way.
“Our way, no player is lazy, but we play another type of tempo and in the right moment run. Our success in the past was this way.
“The idea is important. We start at the keeper and end with the wingers and strikers and today we were able to do it.”
With Gabriel Jesus self-isolating due to a positive Coronavirus test and Guardiola still carefully managing Sergio Aguero’s minutes, Kevin De Bruyne started as City’s most advanced attacker in the capital.
Raheem Sterling and Ferran Torres have both shone in the role previously and the Belgian followed suit with a typically classy display, which also included an assist for Foden’s second goal.
Guardiola says De Bruyne’s is capable of starring in a number of roles outside his usual central midfield position and felt he played his role perfectly at Stamford Bridge.
“Kevin can play in many positions”, he added.
“For the way he has been training, we wanted more solid people in midfield and Bernardo is more solid in those areas. We wanted to do this to counter-attack our midfield through wingers, with him.
“He [De Bruyne] is so good, with his energy to run in behind. He did it really. He can play there perfectly. He can play as a winger, attacking midfielder.
“There are no doubts. We are talking about Kevin De Bruyne. Words are not necessary.”
You can watch full-match replays of every men’s first team game within 24-hours of the final whistle on CITY+.
