Leeds 0 Man City 4: Ruthless City show no nerves as Rodri, Ake, Jesus and Fernandinho fire them back to top of table

NEVER mind all this talk about European semis – it’s the Premier League finals Pep Guardiola is focused on right now.

And after making it one down and four to go at Elland Road, you sensed that the Manchester City manager reckons his side have just won the trickiest of the lot.

Guardiola certainly saw it that way before today’s trip to Yorkshire, coming as it did between the two Champions League clashes with Real Madrid.

Yet goals from Rodri, Nathan Ake, Gabriel Jesus and a last second drive from Fernandinho got them over arguably the toughest hurdle left with something to spare.

These boys ain’t giving up their crown easily, for all the Liverpool love-in and talk of an Anfield quadruple.

In fact should they meet in the Champions League final, in this mood we’re more likely to be talking of an Etihad double, to be honest.

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They were certainly impressively clinical at Elland Road, against a Leeds side with plenty to fight for themselves, albeit at the other end of the table.

Almost literally at times, too, given the way they roared from the traps clearly intent on getting stuck into City in every way possible.

Phll Foden, Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling in particular will all wake up this morning with a few black and blue reminders of their visit.

Although ironically the worst challenge of all – Stuart Dallas – clattering into Grealish, saw the Leeds man departing on a self-inflicted stretcher.

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Luke Ayling was another to, shall we say, put himself about a bit, while Dan James’ first involvement after replacing Dallas was to make his impression on Nathan Ake.

There was a tinder-box feel to things, not helped by referee Paul Tierney almost seeming to take it in turns as to whether he gave fouls or not.

The fans certainly let City know what they felt about it by pelting them with screwed up bits of white, yellow and blue paper they’d held up to form the word Yorkshire before kick-off.

Every time a dark blue shirt – they were in their away kit – went near the far touchline, they were showered with them.

Although it did raise doubts as to whether they WERE genuine Leeds supporters or not. After all, when was the last time you heard of a true Yorkshireman throwing anything away?

As far as the football itself was concerned, Leeds did have their moments…although one of the best was more of a suicidal one by City.

There was more than a hint of Steven Gerrard’s infamous halfway line slip against Chelsea in 2014, when Joao Cancelo did the same.

Only while Demba Ba memorably raced away to score, Rodrigo never looked likely to do the same, and the backtracking Ilkay Gundogan made sure he never got the chance.

Jesse Marsch’s men had their fair share of possession, too. It’s just that they rarely came close to finding an end product as a result.

And if you’re up against a side like City, well ultimately there’s only ever going to be one outcome.

Admittedly it took them long enough to pull clear. But to be honest, from the minute Rodri’s early header glanced them ahead, you never doubted the outcome.

In fact the only uncertainty was whether Dallas had indeed fouled Raheem Sterling for the free kick which led to the goal.

Although considering the rough stuff City had to contend with at times, it was hardly given out of turn.

Phll Foden wasn’t about to argue the point as he curled over an inch perfect delivery that Rodri stuck in the far corner.

On the touchline Leeds chief Marsch threatened to blow a fuse. City merely blew chances to seal it even earlier, although credit Pascal Strujik for one outstanding block to deny Sterling.

If the Dutch defender had been as alert when Ruben Dias rose to nod Foden’s 53rd minute corner back into the box, he may have got there ahead of Nathan Ake.

Instead the City centre back swept it from bang in front and finally it really was game over.

To be fair to Leeds, they didn’t toss in the towel and Aymeric Laporte and Cancelo both came up with stunning blocks to keep the clean sheet.

Not that the result itself was seriously in doubt by then, as Jesus had taken his own personal haul to six in three games by thundering in the third.

And with virtually the final kick Fernandinho drilled in what may well be his last ever City goal from the edge of the box.

So now it’s next stop Madrid, where they hope to finish the job against Real and set up the chance for Euro redemption after last year’s defeat.

After that, it’s those four finals a little closer to home. Let’s be honest, when they play like this would you bet against them?

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk