Manchester City’s players were determined to inflict maximum damage on their opponents, so it was only a matter of when, not if, they would score the 500th Premier League goal under Pep Guardiola.
They began the evening one block away from that landmark, and Phil Foden arrived in only eight minutes.
While City fans performed the Poznan celebration dance, Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne (twice), Riyad Mahrez, John Stones, and Nathan Ake scored against a resolute Leeds defense.
“We want eight,” they chanted, dissatisfied with a victory that will leave Marcelo Bielsa’s team bruised.
Even when a game is won after half an hour, it takes a certain mindset to continue attacking.
Guardiola players, on the other hand, do exactly that.
They didn’t seem to care about anything other than moving forward.
Their objectives included headers, long-range shots, deft movements, and set-pieces.
When the goals were scored, Guardiola would spin around and point to the directors’ box.
City’s executives must be terrified of life without the Spaniard, who has one year remaining on his contract.
His 500 goals were scored in 207 games, which was far fewer than Jurgen Klopp’s previous record of 208 games.
City has also matched Liverpool’s top-flight record of 33 wins in a calendar year, with Newcastle United fearing it will be broken this weekend.
Leeds suffered their joint-worst defeat in club history, but City sent a message to their title rivals.
They lead the table and are the team to beat, with plenty of momentum heading into the holiday games.
Man City leads second-placed Liverpool by four points and third-placed Chelsea by five, with Pep Guardiola’s side having played one more game than the chasers.
