Pep Guardiola savours ‘massive’ Man City victory and provides Erling Haaland injury update

Kevin De Bruyne scored a stunning freekick winner for City, who were without the injured Erling Haaland.

Pep Guardiola celebrates Manchester City’s 1-0 win at Leicester with matchwinner Kevin De Bruyne (David Davies/PA Images). (PA Wire)

Pep Guardiola insists Erling Haaland could return for the next Premier League game but the Norwegian would not have helped life for Manchester City in their 1-0 win at Leicester.

Haaland missed out through an ankle injury, suffered in the Champions League match over Borussia Dortmund, leading to Julian Alvarez deputising.

Guardiola had a sublime Kevin De Bruyne free-kick to thank for three more points, as the champions went top of the Premier League.

Haaland has scored 22 goals this term but one of the rare times he did not was against Bournemouth who set up in the same way as the Foxes.

Guardiola said: “Nobody knows what would have happened with Erling Haaland.

“Erling played against Bournemouth in the shape like Leicester played with five at the back, four in the middle and Vardy dropping and he struggled. It is difficult.

“The best thing I can say, in this type of game, is don’t get frustrated when you attack. If you concede a goal it is almost a hill to climb that would not be possible. So don’t get frustrated and concede free-kicks and corners.

“We won but maybe one corner, one set-piece situation and you can draw the game.

“It is a massive victory because Leicester away is always tough. We arrived in the best moment for them and it was good to go to the top of the league.”

Guardiola says Haaland will definitely miss the midweek Champions League game with Sevilla and will be assessed ahead of the Fulham game next week.

“I am pretty sure against Sevilla, no. First because we have qualified. Against Fulham we will see. We have seven days until then so we will see,” he added.

De Bruyne showcased his talent with his brilliant 25-yard free-kick four minutes after the restart, but the Belgium international has not been without recent criticism from Guardiola, who said he wanted more from him.

The Spaniard said he would not be doing his job properly if he did not give his midfielder some constructive criticism.

“Kevin can do free-kicks, we know it,” he said. “But he is a player who needs his dynamic. He has the quality when he moves, he needs movement and today he was back.

“We need him. It is not about he can’t do it. Over the past seven years we have done everything together, except the Champions League.

“I know him quite well. Nothing is going to change my opinion of him or what he has done for this club or for me personally.

“But I have the duty in my job to say I want more. In the game against Brighton he scored a fantastic goal, but we need more. He can do that blind, naturally. We need both and today was the case.”

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers conceded he had to change to a more defensive shape to contain City, but still could have come away with a point.

Ederson had to produce a stunning save to deny Youri Tielemans’ brilliant first-time volley from a corner.

“I think the players deserve a lot of credit, they carried out the game plan we wanted in terms of styaing in the game,” said Rodgers.

“It’s not the way we usually play but we have to respect arguably the best team in the world. We defended well in those moments.

“They had lots of the ball but our players stood up very strong to that and didn’t give away too many opportunities.

“By the end we could have had something from the game. We were unfortunate not to get something.”