LEICESTER, United Kingdom, Dec 30, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Manchester City boss 
Pep Guardiola said relief was his overriding emotion after a 2-0 victory at 
Leicester secured just a second win in 14 games for the crisis-hit English 
champions on Sunday.

Savinho and Erling Haaland struck either side of half-time as City ended a 
run of eight away games without a win.

The performance was still far from the standards that Guardiola's side have 
set in winning an unprecedented four consecutive English top-flight titles.

But the effusive celebrations of Haaland's header 16 minutes from time showed 
that three points was all that mattered for the visitors to at least 
temporarily halt their remarkable slump in Guardiola's 500th game in charge

"It is not enjoyable right now, it is just relief. We have done incredible 
things for many years," said Guardiola.

"We have done a lot of things that will be in the memory forever and maybe 
this period, which feels like a 100 months, will make us realise how nice it 
was and hopefully we can come back, maybe not be what we were but more close 
than now."

"Today we won and this is what we needed for our minds and souls."

Victory lifts City up to fifth but they are still 14 points behind leaders 
Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

After a bright start to Ruud van Nistelrooy's reign, Leicester have lost 
their last four to fall into the bottom three.

The Foxes were left to rue not taking their chances to inflict more misery on 
a City side still showing a clear lack of confidence.

Any time the home side crossed into City territory in the first half they 
appeared a major threat.

Jamie Vardy would surely have won a penalty had he not strayed offside before 
being brought down by Stefan Ortega, while James Justin's header hit the post 
after a goalmouth scramble.

City, though, got the crucial opening goal on 21 minutes.

Jakub Stolarczyk should have done better than to parry Phil Foden's long-
range effort into the path of Savinho, who swept the rebound into the roof of 
the net for his first City goal.

Chances continued to come and go for Leicester early in the second half.

Justin should have levelled but his mishit finish from close range allowed 
Manuel Akanji to clear off the line.

Vardy then had the biggest chance to level when he prodded over Stephy 
Mavididi's brilliant in-swinging cross.

"We created those moments in a great way, there was some excitement going 
on," said Van Nistelrooy, himself a prolific goalscorer in his playing days.

"As a striker, you know you need a bit of luck in taking those chances, but 
that is where the game is decided."

However, Leicester were hit by a City sucker punch to end the defending 
champions' miserable run on the road.

Savinho was the creator this time as his cross perfectly picked out Haaland 
who powered home his 19th of the season, ending a four-game goal drought for 
the Norwegian.

"It's always a relief when you score, it was an important goal to go 2-0 up," 
said Haaland.

"It's been a difficult time, now it's New Year's -- five or six days till the 
next game. It's the longest time in a long period so we can rest a little 
bit."