Why Josko Gvardiol did not take Man City's penalty despite being on hat-trick

Manchester City's man of the match Josko Gvardiol insisted he would have liked to take the penalty to seal a hat-trick - and explained why he didn't.

Gvardiol enjoyed a superb performance at Craven Cottage as the Blues breezed past Fulham 4-0. The Croatian opened the scoring in the first half as he played an impressive one-two with Kevin De Bruyne before slotting the ball underneath Bernd Leno.

The floodgates would open in the second half with 30 minutes to go as Phil Foden bagged the second with a composed finish. Ten minutes later, Gvardiol had his second of the game as he expertly broke the offside trap to latch onto Bernardo Silva's cross to the back post.

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Many expected he would be given the chance to seal a hat-trick in stoppage time when Julian Alvarez was brought down in the penalty area by Issa Diop, who was sent off for a second bookable offence. City's players asked the 22-year-old if he wished to take the spot kick but he refused.

Instead, Alvarez dusted himself down to slot home the fourth with one of the last kicks of the game. At full-time, Gvardiol was asked by TNT Sports if he was tempted to take the penalty.

He responded: "Another two goals, happy. Of course a clean sheet, happy as well.

"We were discussing about me taking the penalty and of course I would like to take it. But we know who the taker is and he takes. It was Julian and I am happy for him to score a goal."

Victory for City moves the Blues back to the top of the Premier League ahead of Arsenal's trip to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.