Pep Guardiola hailed the return to form of Kevin De Bruyne after the Belgian’s double in Tuesday’s 7-0 thrashing of Leeds.
City’s star playmaker had a slow start to the campaign after a summer of injury problems and then a spell out with coronavirus.
He looked back to his best as the champions swept Leeds aside with embarrassing ease at the Etihad Stadium to chalk up their seventh successive Premier League victory in style.
De Bruyne netted City’s third of the night before half-time and then made it 5-0 with a thunderbolt of a strike just after the hour.
City manager Guardiola said: “Kevin trained well the last two days. Against Wolves he lacked rhythm, but it is not easy to come back [after Covid-19].
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“In these type of games, that are a bit more open and they put a lot of players in front, Kevin is the best.
“We are really pleased he is coming back because we need him. He struggled at the start of the season but hopefully now he can maintain this rhythm longer.”
City tore into Leeds from the outset and opened the scoring through Phil Foden after just eight minutes. That was the club’s 500th Premier League goal under Guardiola in just the Spaniard’s 207th game in charge, a new record for the competition.
Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez, John Stones and Nathan Ake also got on the scoresheet in a dominant display that thrilled the home fans.
Guardiola said: “We did a really good game. We dropped five points against Leeds last season, and it was the same guys today, apart from Jack.
“It was a good game, but the stadium was phenomenal. It was sold out and the players felt it. Thank you so much.”
‘Man City have sent message to the Premier League’
Former Leeds United manager Simon Grayson:
“Manchester City sent a massive message. Right from the first whistle they got after Leeds; they pressed from the front, won the ball back. They didn’t have an out-and-out centre-forward, the forwards all rotated and played in different positions and passed and moved the ball.
“Even in the final minute they still had the hunger and desire to go and get the eighth. They were ruthless; any chance they got to punish Leeds they took. It sent a message out to all the other teams who are chasing them. Manchester City have shown what they are capable of doing tonight.”