Mind Games? Guardiola Hails Iwobi’s Form Ahead of Man City vs Fulham Clash

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Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has heaped praise on Fulham’s Alex Iwobi, stating that the Nigerian midfielder is in the best form of his career.

Guardiola made these comments during a pre-match press conference ahead of City’s encounter with Fulham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

As usual, Guardiola offered respectful remarks about his opposition, a practice that has become a hallmark of his press briefings.

With City sitting second on the Premier League table, unbeaten this season, and Fulham in sixth, Guardiola had a few thoughtful words on the Cottagers.

“They are a team who always, always, always create problems, especially at home in the first-half.

“They have a lot of weapons and speed.”

“Iwobi, I have never seen him in the form that he is playing. And of course, the speed of Adama always creates problems.”

“Jimenez is back [and he] always has been tough.”

For many, this seems like another example of Guardiola’s well-known pre-match ritual: complimenting the opposition before leading his team to a comprehensive victory.

But is Alex Iwobi truly in the best form of his career, as Guardiola suggests?

This season, Iwobi has appeared in eight games for Fulham, registering one goal and one assist. While his goal contributions don’t leap off the stat sheet, his influence on the field is undeniable.

He has been a dynamic presence, contributing not only in attack but also in defence. His versatility has made him one of Fulham’s most impactful players this season.

However, a deeper look at Iwobi’s stats shows that he may not yet be at his peak. Last season, he scored six goals and provided two assists across 35 matches.

In the 2022/23 season, he scored two goals and nine assists in 41 appearances. Prior to that, during the 2021/22 season, he contributed three goals and three assists in 32 games.

However, his most productive season came in 2018/19, when he scored six goals and added eight assists in 51 matches.

While Iwobi is certainly an important player for Fulham, the numbers don’t quite support the claim that he’s in his best-ever form.

Guardiola may indeed be using his typical psychological tactics, but there’s no doubt Iwobi has the potential to be a game-changer.

Fulham haven’t beaten Manchester City since April 2009, when Clint Dempsey scored twice in a 3-1 victory at the Etihad. Last season, City dominated Fulham across their meetings, winning 9-1 on aggregate.

Yet, Fulham fans may take hope from Iwobi’s heroics last season against Manchester United, where he scored a dramatic late goal to seal a 2-1 victory.

With City missing key player Rodri, perhaps Iwobi can step up and be the difference-maker for Fulham this time around.