Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola welcomed back Kevin de Bruyne for victory over Sheffield United.
De Bruyne returned to the bench for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in the opening game of the season.
Guardiola said: “Always difficult – similar to [Crystal] Palace but maybe we learned from that. Pleased for the clean sheet, a tough month for us in Saudi Arabia but I think that helped us a lot winning the Club World Cup. We’re not top of the league but we’re not far away. Titles we won this season. Mood is good, now we rest a bit and have a few days off.
“We’ve played these types of games many times, we know and sometimes we handle good sometimes not. Against Villa they played the same system, it’s tight and difficult. We didn’t concede any set pieces second half and when Oscar [Bobb] came in we increased tempo in the final third and created chances.
“Phil [Foden] can arrive on the sides and make crosses which is tough without Erling [Haaland] or he has to move in the small spaces and in the pockets. Like David Silva in the past. Bernardo [Silva] and Oscar too are really good in the small spaces.”
On De Bruyne making his return, Guardiola added: “Really good – we’ve been waiting a long time for him. He’s turning good the last week or so. He came for the trophies today for the picture and to be here and realise when to warm up and how the people support him and look forward to seeing him again. Maybe Newcastle he will be ready.”
