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Pep Guardiola enjoyed the result but not the performance as Manchester City opened their title defense with a 5-0 thrashing of West Ham.<\/p>\nPep Guardiola enjoyed the result but not the performance as Manchester City opened their title defense with a 5-0 thrashing of West Ham.<\/p>\n
Raheem Sterling grabbed a hat-trick while Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Ag\u00fcero were also on target in a match which witnessed the first VAR intervention in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
But City only led by Jesus\u2019 strike at half-time and at 2-0 up were indebted to a stunning double save from Ederson to deny Javier Hernandez and Manuel Lanzini.<\/p>\n
\u201cWas it the perfect start? In terms of result, yes. Performance, no!\u201d said Guardiola.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the first half we were sloppy in our passing. But that\u2019s normal. It\u2019s the first game, away, it was hot, the rhythm was not there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe second half was better, more calm, extra passes, and after 3-0 the game was over. I cannot deny I\u2019m so delighted for 5-0.\u201d<\/p>\n
West Ham had looked bright until Jesus nipped in between two defenders to convert Kyle Walker\u2019s 25th-minute cross.<\/p>\n
Sterling doubled the lead six minutes into the second half, before VAR threatened to overshadow proceedings when a second Jesus goal was ruled out.<\/p>\n
Sterling had laid the ball across for Jesus to tap in but after a lengthy wait \u2013 one of six VAR delays throughout the match \u2013 replays showed the England forward was offside by the width of his own shoulder.<\/p>\n
How the West Ham fans laughed, but the boot was on the other foot shortly after when Sterling lobbed Lukasz Fabianski, VAR this time ruling he was onside.<\/p>\n
VAR intervened again after City were awarded a penalty, Fabianski saving from Sergio Ag\u00fcero only for referee Mike Dean to be told to order a retake after Declan Rice was spotted encroaching.<\/p>\n
Guardiola has, of course, been on the wrong end of VAR decisions in the recent past.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cAfter what happened against Tottenham in the (Champions League) quarter-finals, we scored in 95th minute and we were there, 60,000 people were jumping, dancing, and one second later we\u2019d lost because it was offside, I\u2019m used to these situations. Nothing will be comparable to that.<\/p>\n
\u201cSaying that we have to be strong. After 3-0 the game is almost over, but at 2-0, 10 minutes later Ederson had to make an incredible save, and we\u2019d have played the last 15 minutes at 2-1. So when that happens, after celebrating, you have to refocus.\u201d<\/p>\n
West Ham paraded their new record signing, \u00a345million striker Sebastien Haller, and gave a second-half debut to \u00a325m midfielder Pablo Fornals.<\/p>\n
But it was the same old story as Ag\u00fcero buried his second attempt before Sterling ran through to complete another heavy defeat. In their five visits to the London Stadium, City have now scored 22 goals and conceded just once.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the first 45 minutes we played well, we didn\u2019t ever feel on the bench that City could score,\u201d said manager Manuel Pellegrini.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were very unlucky with the first goal and then City are more dangerous. We conceded the second goal too easily.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter that we had a couple of chances to make it 2-1, but finally with space in the last minutes they scored their goals.\u201d<\/p>\n