Pep Guardiola joked that it is now time to see how Omar Marmoush deals with compliments after his star turning against Newcastle United.
Marmoush scored a 14-minute hat trick in the first half of the 4-0 routing on Saturday of the Magpies in the Etihad Stadium.
James McATEE closed the victory for City, who now have a huge week, while they are preparing to accept Real Madrid and Liverpool.
In terms of minutes between the first and third goals, Marmoush's hat trick was the second Quickest by a city player in the Premier League.
Marmoush also became the second player whose first three Premier League goals for City came as a hat trick, after Paulo Wanchope against Sunderland was against Sunderland in August 2000.
After seeing one of the Big-Money January settings of the club, Guardiola told BBC Sport: “We knew sooner or later that he would score goals, he is a good finisher.
“Of course he has to improve, but now we see how he deals with the compliments.”
A very happy @omarmarmoush @okx pic.twitter.com/bz8afhrjua
– Manchester City (@Mancity) February 15, 2025
City has now won 16 straight Premier League matches against Newcastle.
Guardiola has also selected another of his newcomers – midfielder Nico Gonzalez – for LOF, in which the former Porto man is used in a similar role as that Rodri inhabits for the city so often.
“We were really good, good energy in advance. Nico Gonzalez helped us a lot, I was really happy because we needed him, it was a tough three months,” Guardiola said.
“He is our Mini Rodri! He has a huge presence, his pace and his time at the Barcelona academy, it's all about the ball and positioning. He has the desire to be successful in the Premier League, he is Here to prove itself. “
Gonzalez had more accents (112) and played more passes (101) than any other player – 98 of those passes were accurate.
There was a reason for concern for the city late, when it went down, held his knee, although Guardiola was hopeful on the fitness of the striker.
“I didn't talk to the doctor, but I was afraid when he went downstairs,” said Guardiola. “Maybe it's not bad as it could be.”
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