“I’ve known Pep for many years, but it’s always great to receive praise from the best coach in the world. He approached me after the match and gave me some advice,” Fulham star Adama Traore revealed, sharing what Pep Guardiola told him at full-time.

Pep Guardiola praised Adama Traore after Manchester City’s 3-2 victory over Fulham. City’s win came from two goals by Mateo Kovacic and one by Jeremy Doku, while Fulham responded with goals from Andreas Pereira and Rodrigo Muniz.

Traore, however, had several chances that could have changed the game. In the first half, he outran Rico Lewis and had a clear shot on goal but missed, hitting the crossbar minutes later. In the second half, he also beat Kyle Walker in a sprint but couldn’t get past Ederson in a one-on-one.

After the game, Guardiola said, “Adama was unstoppable today. Whenever he had the ball, we struggled to control him. You have to defend in your box.”

With Rodri sidelined for the rest of the season due to a knee injury, Guardiola highlighted the need to adapt. “We have to find a solution without Rodri.

We have players like Kovacic, Gundo [Gundogan], John [Stones], Rico [Lewis], and Manu [Akanji] who can step in.”

Speaking about Doku’s goal, Guardiola added, “It was fantastic. We always talk about his dribbling, but it’s his final pass and action that make the difference. The shot created a beautiful curve, and I’m delighted for him.”

Guardiola also praised Kovacic’s performance, saying, “Kova was excellent, especially when they switched to five at the back. He managed the transitions well.”

He concluded by acknowledging Fulham’s quality, particularly crediting manager Marco Silva and their summer signings, including Emile Smith-Rowe and Reiss Nelson. He also praised Ederson for making crucial saves during the match.