On evenings such as this Manchester City are like the Terminator: a relentless foe that refuses to be cowed no matter what comes at them. Copenhagen showed their courage in answering the sparkling Kevin De Bruyne’s opener with Magnus Mattsson’s leveller, the Belgian then creating Bernardo Silva’s second.
All of these goals were scored before the interval. Before and after De Bruyne was the prime City personification of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in the Hollywood blockbuster whose epithet “I’ll be back” could be applied to the irresistible 32-year-old.
At Copenhagen’s Champions League home games the Boomtown Rats song I Don’t Like Mondays is played. A line says, “there are no reasons”, and with De Bruyne fresh from a five-month injury layoff and in flying form, who has any good ones why Pep Guardiola’s side cannot retain the trophy? Because, too, as illustrated here, City have added a street‑tough attitude to the high‑octane football, Phil Foden’s late third surely a terminal blow to the Danish club, with De Bruyne again the creator.
Guardiola said: “We played really good, the right tempo we should play. We managed the game – the players behaved and performed well. Copenhagen don’t come to take the ball, they wait for mistakes, defend the space. You have to be so patient. Don’t concede transitions. The five players behind were brilliant and then the quality of our players, Kevin and Phil, everyone was really [good].”
Jack Grealish and Silva each sustained injuries. “Bernardo has a big knock on his ankle,” Guardiola said. “I didn’t speak with the doctor but it looks muscular with Jack. It’s something muscular, his groin – it’s a pity, he’s gutted. We’ll do tests [on Wednesday]. Hopefully Bernardo is not a big issue. We’ve got Chelsea at home [on Saturday] so hope he can recover as quickly as possible.”
Guardiola offered an update, too, on Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, who did not travel. “Josko is two or three weeks out because of an ankle ligament injury. Kova could come back [soon],” the manager said.
As is usual the home crowd were a bellowing raucous mass though not for long because of the opener. Foden pivoted and stroked to De Bruyne and the finish was rolled inside Kamil Grabara’s right post. Grealish being forced off after 21 minutes meant the Guardiola gameplan had to be recalibrated. Jérémy Doku entered and immediately slipped in Silva on the left. The Portuguese’s cross pinballed off Grabara’s arm on to the bar and Copenhagen escaped.
Next in the file of City wounded was Foden and, though he recovered as the visitors remained in control, the relentless rhythm they love to adopt had been chopped up by the injury interruptions. They are so accomplished that in a moment this can be rediscovered. It came in a sublime sequence that featured Rodri chipping left to Doku who dipped the ball over for Erling Haaland to fly at, volleying marginally over.
A Guardiola mantra in Europe concerns how any opponent can prosper. Copenhagen first threatened so when Magnus Mattsson, in a crowded area, nearly pulled the trigger. Moments later he did and equalised. Ederson hashed a pass out to Mohamed Elyounoussi, his shot was blocked by Rúben Dias, the ball went to the midfielder and he fired into the top right corner.
Contest firmly back on. The Danish faithful’s noise level again rocketed. Suddenly Mattsson was in once more but this time he sprayed over. Guardiola has spoken of City being transformed under him into believers in the theatre of continental combat. Now was the time to prove it.
They did so superbly and with apt timing – close to the end of the 45 minutes – and again could thank that man De Bruyne, who now turned provider. A dink found Silva and he beat Grabara, once more to his right, and was hailed with a Guardiola arm‑pump as City walked off ahead.
In the opening minutes of the second half City hogged the ball and moved the opposition about. But, then, Doku miscontrolled, the hosts claimed a corner, Mattsson delivered from the right and Elyounoussi went agonisingly close. A warning for City, so De Bruyne took over.
First, he unloaded forcing a Grabara save. The following act was a surge from the right that claimed a free‑kick which Foden aimed at goal but Grabara clutched. Next he was in the centre circle being upended by Kevin Diks.
Rodri and Haaland can be touted as City’s most vital players but De Bruyne is surely this, a gallop down the wing a latest calling card. His errors, too, are collector’s items, but when Foden made one Copenhagen used the transition to hurtle upfield, a Nathan Aké diving header clearing the danger.
Foden’s simple close-range effort sealed victory. In the home return in three weeks expect City to go through.
