Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola admitted that his side had taken their time to get going in their 3-1 home Premier League win over Bournemouth.
People think it's easy for us, but that is not the truth.
Pep Guardiola
The Citizens needed second-half goals from Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan to see off the Cherries and secure a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, with the visitors threatening an upset when Callum Wilson equalised on the stroke of half-time.
And Guardiola was well aware that his players had not been at their best in the early stages of the game at the Etihad Stadium, telling BBC Sport: "A good win. After the Champions League it is always tough. People think it's easy for us, but that is not the truth, so I like to win in this way.
"We were flat (early on), but later we were more aggressive and we changed the game.
"We had a lack of rhythm in the first half - Bournemouth are so fast up front and so hard to play against. They put so many balls into the box, they are so strong.
"In the second half we were much better."
City are now 2/9 to retain their Premier League title, with Liverpool available at 4/1 and Tottenham Hotspur 33/1.
Meanwhile, also on Saturday a first goal for the club from Florin Andone was enough to give Brighton a 2-1 victory at Huddersfield Town, while Crystal Palace ran out deserved 2-0 winners at home to struggling Burnley.
Leicester City eased to a 2-0 success at home to Watford, while Javier Hernandez scored twice as West Ham triumphed 3-0 at Newcastle United to put an end to the Magpies' three-match winning run.
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Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola admitted that his side had taken their time to get going in their 3-1 home Premier League win over Bournemouth.
People think it's easy for us, but that is not the truth.
Pep Guardiola
The Citizens needed second-half goals from Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan to see off the Cherries and secure a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, with the visitors threatening an upset when Callum Wilson equalised on the stroke of half-time.
And Guardiola was well aware that his players had not been at their best in the early stages of the game at the Etihad Stadium, telling BBC Sport: "A good win. After the Champions League it is always tough. People think it's easy for us, but that is not the truth, so I like to win in this way.
"We were flat (early on), but later we were more aggressive and we changed the game.
"We had a lack of rhythm in the first half - Bournemouth are so fast up front and so hard to play against. They put so many balls into the box, they are so strong.
"In the second half we were much better."
City are now 2/9 to retain their Premier League title, with Liverpool available at 4/1 and Tottenham Hotspur 33/1.
Meanwhile, also on Saturday a first goal for the club from Florin Andone was enough to give Brighton a 2-1 victory at Huddersfield Town, while Crystal Palace ran out deserved 2-0 winners at home to struggling Burnley.
Leicester City eased to a 2-0 success at home to Watford, while Javier Hernandez scored twice as West Ham triumphed 3-0 at Newcastle United to put an end to the Magpies' three-match winning run.
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Source: bet365.com