Pep Guardiola has talked up the impact of Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva after the pair scored in Manchester City's 2-0 win over Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday.
After scoring three goals in his last two starts, including a brace against Bristol City in the FA Cup on Tuesday, Foden made the breakthrough in the 15th minute against the Magpies with a deflected strike, following a surging run into the penalty area.
At the age of 22 years and 280 days, City's No.47 has become the youngest player in the club's history to reach 50 Premier League goal involvements – scoring 33 times and registering 17 assists.
With Newcastle responding well and posing a constant threat on the counter-attack, Guardiola opted to swap Kevin De Bruyne with Bernardo on the 65-minute mark, and just two minutes later, the Portuguese playmaker double City's advantage, firing past Nick Pope from just inside the box after receiving a flick-on from Erling Braut Haaland.
Bernardo's strike was Man City's 1000th Premier League goal on home soil and their 840th at the Etihad Stadium, with the remaining 160 goals scored at Maine Road.
Guardiola's side have now moved to within two points of league leaders Arsenal – who play at home to Bournemouth later this afternoon – and the Spaniard has hailed the influence of his goal-scoring duo in the win over Newcastle.
Speaking to BT Sport after the game, Guardiola said: "Bernardo [Silva] had the ability to help us have long possessions or make the possessions longer. He had the ability to keep the ball and make the extra pass because in that moment the game was broken.
"It was better for Newcastle. We didn't want the game in transitions so that's why Bernardo was the idea. It works and we won so it's perfect.
"The game started and they were better, we struggled to build-up, we made some changes during the first half and after the brilliant action from Phil [Foden], we had the game in our hands, we didn't suffer. The first minutes of the second half were good but then we lost the game and Bernardo helped us to come back.
On Phil Foden, Guardiola added: "His commitment without the ball, both him and Jack [Grealish]...Of course, it was a deflected goal but the aggression to go in is something we've missed a little bit this season. Now it is what we need to feel.
"In these positions, in that part of the goal, you have to be aggressive like he was for the goal."
Guardiola has also acknowledged that the threat of Newcastle against his City side and believes the Magpies – who are still chasing Champions League qualification this term – are capable of competing for the Premier League title in years to come.
"Their threat is not a surprise, there is a reason why they were in the Carabao Cup final and for a lot of minutes they were better than United," said the Spaniard. "This team and this club in the next few years will be a threat for the title."
Bernardo expressed his delight for scoring City's second goal and for Phil Foden to have regained his form following a spell on the sidelines through injury, telling BT Sport: "I am very happy because it was a tough game. It was a tough moment in the game for us.
"Phil Foden is so good, he is one of those players who can score goals and win games for you. I am happy for him, he went through a difficult period with his injury so I am very happy to have him with us because he showed he can solve some of our problems.
"There is a good team spirit at the moment. We have had tough moments this season but we want to compete and do our best. It won't be easy but we will fight for all of the titles we are still in."
Man City now have seven days to prepare for their next Premier League game against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. body check tags ::
