LONDON – As the Premier League approaches the turn, Manchester City’s latest triumph exemplifies their title challenge thus far. The scoreline of 3-0 against Crystal Palace might suggest a strong performance by Pep Guardiola’s squad, who have scored three goals in six of their last seven league matches.

Despite this apparent dominance, deeper analysis reveals potential concerns. After Phil Foden broke the deadlock late into the game, City initially struggled against a Palace side that outperformed them for significant stretches. Former Palace FA Cup winners threatened to create more chances until City’s breakthroughs.

Guardiola acknowledged, “There are still many things we have to improve. The Real Madrid win gave me a lot of signals that we are not ready… To make 3-0 here is a good statement for us.”

Although the win is commendable, the defensive lapses and opportunities lost against Palace raise questions about City’s preparation for tougher opponents in the league. Notably, they permitted 16 shots compared to their own seven.

Guardiola emphasizes the growth of his younger players, saying, “Phil today, I think differently [to others]. He was not at his best. He lost a lot of balls… he has to keep the ball, associate with the other players, and make this explosion that only he has.”

As City progresses in the season, their ability to improve and adapt remains crucial, particularly given their formidable position in the league. Despite challenges ahead, Guardiola believes in the resilience and potential of his squad. “We’ve been playing without the best player in the world for a year and a half. Despite that, we are close. This is what I like.”