Pep Guardiola praises Manchester City's remarkable 5-2 victory over Juventus, securing the top spot in their Club World Cup group. Guardiola commends the team's execution and highlights the achievement of Erling Haaland reaching his 300th career goal.

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, praised his team following their spectacular 5-2 triumph over Italian side Juventus, securing the top spot in Group G of the Club World Cup.

The goals from Jeremy Doku, an own goal from Pierre Kalulu, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Savinho marked City's third consecutive victory, ensuring a perfect group stage record.

Manchester City will face the runner-up from Group H, which includes Real Madrid, Al-Hilal, Red Bull Salzburg, and Pachuca, in the tournament currently ongoing in the United States.

Despite his delight with the magnificent win over the Italian giants, Guardiola was even more pleased with the manner in which City executed their plan, stating, "Today felt like a final, and we discussed that beforehand."

The Spanish coach remarked on his club's official website, "Our primary goal was qualification. It's always uncertain who might top Group H, as it includes formidable opponents. The way we approach each match is focused on winning, and today we achieved just that, which is immensely satisfying."

Guardiola emphasized, "Our performance was truly exceptional. I'm thrilled, especially because the key is for the players to realize they need to continue what they've been achieving over the past decade."

"Last season, our squad was fantastic, although 50% of the players were injured," Guardiola continued. "We couldn't compete fully, but this season, we'll strive to maintain this momentum for as long as possible."

The City manager added, "Our intensity without the ball was high, and with it, we were sometimes quicker. Ederson was phenomenal today with his long passing, and we displayed calmness and patience throughout the game."

"Qualification means beating the best teams out there," noted Guardiola. "Whether it's before or after securing a spot, the essential part is demonstrating once again that we can compete, just as we have over the past decade."

Guardiola added, "Last season, it wasn't feasible due to a lack of available players. Today, we have two outstanding central defenders and four players on the bench. Previously, we struggled with just one, hindering our ability to train properly. Now we are moving forward."

"This is the only way to remain competitive in the Premier League, Europe, and all competitions. Twelve years ago, no one could have imagined Manchester City playing in the Club World Cup. We used to be a mid-table team, and now we face the elite-it's a great honor for us."

Guardiola stressed, "We want to play every match with this tempo, win or lose. It's fine if you don't win every game, but you must always strive to compete."

The manager also highlighted Norwegian star Erling Haaland's milestone achievement of scoring his 300th goal for club and country. With a smile, he commented, "All I can say is congratulations. Scoring 300 goals at the age of 24 is quite impressive, isn't it?"

He humorously added, "When I was younger, I scored 11 goals in 11 years-imagine that! I have a deep admiration for great strikers."

Concluding his remarks, the Catalan manager expressed, "I'm very pleased for Erling, not only for scoring but also for his contributions in creating another goal and his efforts in tight spaces."