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Pep hails Mahrez, City players for bouncing back in style

Manager Pep Guardiola saluted his "incredible players" as Manchester City recovered from their midweek European blip in the English Premier League on Saturday.

City roared to a 5-0 win at Cardiff City with a goal on his 300th appearance for Sergio Aguero, a best performance of the season from Ilkay Guendogan and another outstanding display by Bernardo Silva.

Yet perhaps most significant for the champions were the long-awaited maiden goals for their record-signing Riyad Mahrez, who finally reaped the individual reward for his impressive performances with a fine second-half double.

"It's important for him, I'm sure," Guardiola, who replaced Aguero with Mahrez in the last half an hour, told the BBC.

"Riyad is incredibly talented. I'm so satisfied with his behaviour, the way he's played and trained. We don't have any doubt about his quality."

There had been nothing greatly lacking in the £60 million (S$107m) man's performances for City in his previous seven appearances this season except a confidence-boosting goal. But such is City's quality that Guardiola has no guarantees for any individual.

"He (Mahrez) knows he has to fight because he's in such a talented squad, but I'm so calm when I can put in players like (Phil) Foden," said Guardiola.

"But the season is too long and they have to be prepared because they are going to play a lot of minutes."

It was a particularly stirring riposte from City after the almost inexplicably poor Champions League loss to Lyon at the Etihad on Wednesday.

"They are incredible players, an exceptional group and they deserve all my respect. After a not good result in midweek, we responded with the same level we had for the last 12 or 13 months," Guardiola said.

"The first 20-25 minutes are always complicated, not easy, but after one or two goals immediately it was easier."

For Cardiff, the defeat means they are still seeking their first victory of the campaign.

Their manager Neil Warnock acknowledged the divide in class between the teams and added: "It was a long afternoon. We are finding it difficult at the moment against the top clubs.

"But, it's not going to define our season. It will knock our chins to the floor for a bit, but the lads have got to get over this and get on with next week." - AFP, REUTERS

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