Pep Guardiola savours ‘massive victory’ for Man City over battling Leicester

Pep Guardiola does not think Manchester City would have found life any easier in their 1-0 win at Leicester if Erling Haaland had played.

City were without the Norway striker for the first time this season due to an ankle injury picked up against his former club Borussia Dortmund in midweek and they missed his predatory instincts.

In the end they needed a stunning free-kick from Kevin De Bruyne to get past a dogged Leicester side who were set up to contain the champions.

Haaland has scored 22 goals this term but one of the rare times he did not was against Bournemouth who set up in the same way as the Foxes.

Guardiola said: “Nobody knows what would have happened with Erling Haaland.

“Erling played against Bournemouth in the shape like Leicester played with five at the back, four in the middle and Vardy dropping and he struggled. It is difficult.

“The best thing I can say, in this type of game, is don’t get frustrated when you attack. If you concede a goal it is almost a hill to climb that would not be possible. So don’t get frustrated and concede free-kicks and corners.

“We won but maybe one corner, one set-piece situation and you can draw the game.

“It is a massive victory because Leicester away is always tough. We arrived in the best moment for them and it was good to go to the top of the league.”

Guardiola says Haaland will definitely miss the midweek Champions League game with Sevilla and will be assessed ahead of the Fulham game next week.

“I am pretty sure against Sevilla, no. First because we have qualified. Against Fulham we will see. We have seven days until then so we will see,” he added.

De Bruyne showcased his talent with his brilliant 25-yard free-kick four minutes after the restart, but the Belgium