Pep brands Newcastle win as best performance of the season

Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City’s best performance of the season as they eased to a 2-0 victory over Newcastle on a wet and windy Boxing Day night.

Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres struck in each half at the Etihad Stadium as City climbed up to fifth in the Premier League with a convincing display.

“It was the best performance of the season,” City manager Guardiola said. “That is the tempo we need to play. Everybody needs to do their jobs and this was a good example. Our positional game was perfect.

“I’m so glad how we played. We had a victory, we climbed some positions. Unfortunately we could not score more goals but it is a good result and three more points.”

City face a quick turnaround as they travel to Everton on Monday evening.

Guardiola said: “We cannot think much, we can’t stop. We have to build from here. In 45 hours we have another game at Goodison Park.

“(On Sunday) the players have to regenerate and prepare in one day, but that’s how England likes it so we accept it. After that we have six games before the next one.”