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Pep Guardiola felt his team were given a useful test after coming from behind to begin their Champions League defence with a 3-1 win over Red Star Belgrade.<\/p>\n
The holders were stunned when the Serbian champions claimed a shock lead on the stroke of half-time through Osman Bukari in Tuesday\u2019s Group G clash at the Etihad Stadium.<\/p>\n
Yet as they did in the Premier League at West Ham last weekend, they hit back to win after the break, this time with two goals from Julian Alvarez and one from Rodri.<\/p>\n
City manager Guardiola said: \u201cAt the end, going in at half-time 1-0, after what we\u2019ve done that\u2019s nice \u2013 after winning the treble we need to be the type of champions who prove to ourselves that we are able to make a comeback.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this situation it\u2019s nice to prove it. In both games we played incredible and immediately at the start of the second half.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe have things to improve in general but that\u2019s really, really good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guardiola was particularly impressed with the performance of his goalscorers.<\/p>\n
Alvarez has benefited from a run in the side this season while Rodri, match-winner in last season\u2019s final, continues to excel.<\/p>\n
Guardiola said of Alvarez: \u201cHis movement was so quick and he\u2019s so young. What a signing the club have done.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has everything \u2013 fighting, goals, assists. Incredible. And he\u2019s a lovely guy. Playing behind Erling (Haaland) he is an incredible threat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rodri has developed into one of the best midfielders in the game during his time at City and Guardiola is in no doubt he is now at the top.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cYes, he\u2019s the best \u2013 but hopefully he can be better. He has a good mentality and good things to improve.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we were lucky again that the club has signed these type of players.\u201d<\/p>\n
The downside for City was the loss of Bernardo Silva shortly before half-time with an unspecified injury.<\/p>\n
Guardiola said: \u201cI didn\u2019t speak with the doctors but apparently for the next games he will not be able to play.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Portuguese joins an injury list that includes Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic.<\/p>\n
Guardiola said: \u201cWhen we have five important players \u2013 really, really important players \u2013 injured, to sustain that for a long time will be difficult. But it is what it is.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot have the salaries and budgets for transfers to have 55 players. It would be chaos for the clubs and they would be bankrupt. Sometimes it happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Red Star coach Barak Bachar admitted City were the better side.<\/p>\n
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He said: \u201cWe tried, we fought, but we conceded an early goal in the second half. They should have scored more.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are a great team, they have exceptional players. After we conceded it was difficult to maintain the pace, because we never play at this pace in our league. We learned a lot from this match.\u201d<\/p>\n