After the game on Saturday, Pep Guardiola and Eddie Howe both agreed on one thing.
The two managers said that the fact that Manchester City could bring in world-class players like Kevin De Bruyne off the bench while Newcastle United was tired and did not have any good options on the bench of their own was a game-changer and winner.
After the match, it was not difficult to see images of Pep expressing happiness after witnessing Kevin de Bruyne shine to help Manchester City come back against New Zealand.
Pep Guardiola admits… ‘I’ll be honest, for the way we play, we play quite similar without him, but to win [big] games, we need the type of player like Kevin or Erling.’
“That was really good.
“Sometimes it is better to win that way for the team and for everything.
“Incredible team, the way we played with a huge personality.
“They showed me they want to be there, to fight until the end, and that they want to retain the title.
“Kevin De Bruyne is a special player; he’s a legend who is so beloved by our people.
“He’s fresh in his mind because five months is a long time, and in the second half of the season, he can help us be there until the end.
“He needs to have a bit more freedom and space and to be able to move to where his nose or gut is telling him at that moment to create some passes.
“When Kevin has the ball, we need runners like Oscar, as he did today, Phil, and Erling. His goal was fantastic.
“I had the feeling that he wasn’t ready for 90 minutes because he’s been out—everyone was saying, ‘OK, he can play, he can play’—we hoped he could come on when we had control of the game like Huddersfield last week for the last 20–25 minutes because how many times last season did he arrive at the by-line and provide the crosses?
“I’ll be honest, for the way we play, we play quite similar without him, but to win [big] games, we need the type of player like Kevin or Erling.
“We have players who play in the pockets, but for the vision and quality in the final third, we need Kevin.
“What can I say? He has been here for many years, and we have been together for eight years. What can I say?”
An important victory over Newcastle helps Man City get close to Liverpool’s top spot. Pep’s team is now only 2 points behind Liverpool.