Manchester City 2-0 Preston: FIVE things we learned after Pep Guardiola’s side seal friendly victory

For Pep Guardiola, Manchester City‘s pre-season friendly against Preston was all about building up match fitness for his players ahead of the Community Shield curtain-raiser against Leicester on August 7.

But Guardiola also will have been quietly delighted by what he saw from a City team that consisted of a mix of senior stars and youngsters looking to prove their worth ahead of the 2021-22 Premier League campaign.

Riyad Mahrez opened the scoring for City with an exquisite free-kick in the first half before City youngsters James McAtee and Samuel Edozie brilliantly combined to seal a routine 2-0 victory.

Here, Sportsmail takes you through the five things that we learned from City’s win over Preston on Tuesday night…

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City saw off Preston 2-0 in their first pre-season friendly

1) MAHREZ HIS SILKY SELF

While we can’t read too much into the pre-season friendly, one thing that stood out was Riyad Mahrez’s usual class – continuing from where he left off at the end of last season for the Premier League champions.

The Algerian winger was menacing throughout for a makeshift City side – linking up brilliantly with Joao Cancelo down the right flank.

Mahrez injected the first real moment of quality into the friendly thanks to his sublime free-kick in the 27th minute.

Preston goalkeeper Connor Ripley had absolutely no chance as Mahrez’s curling free-kick sailed into the top right corner of his net.

After netting the opener, Mahrez was at it again for City and nearly helped double his side’s lead just before half-time after playing a brilliant ball to the back post only for youngster Cole Palmer to fire his effort over the crossbar.

Riyad Mahrez scored a superb free-kick to put City 1-0 in the lead against Preston on Tuesday

2) LEADER FERNANDINHO CONTINUES TO PROVE INVALUABLE

There were doubts last season whether veteran Fernandinho would extend his stay in Manchester after seeing his game-time reduced and with his deal expiring this summer.

But he impressively fought his way back into Pep Guardiola’s side near the end of last season, as they progressed to the Champions League final, and his experienced proved priceless.

And he was rewarded with a new one-year contract in June, something that City supporters were delighted to see.

His winning mentality and vast experience will continue to prove vital to City as they go in their quest for another Premier League title while they desperately search for their first ever Champions League crown.

And on Tuesday, as Guardiola fielded an inexperienced side, Fernandinho’s presence proved invaluable once more. The Brazilian midfielder dominated proceedings and was in complete control, while proving a real leader for the youngsters. 

There was one stage in the first half wherew Guardiola called Fernandinho over for a chat on the touchline, communicating with his captain to try and help City take control of the game. The Spaniard’s trusted figure.  

City’s youngsters will have learned plenty playing alongside the experienced Fernandinho

3) MENDY STILL NEEDS TO CONVINCE GUARDIOLA

Oleksandr Zinchenko established himself as City’s first-choice left back for the majority of last season thanks to his consistent displays both going forward and in defence, which has proved Benjamin Mendy’s downfall in recent times.

The Frenchman always proves a menace going forward but defensively, he still has plenty to answer for.

And that was on display once more on Tuesday following a couple of headless moments early on in the pre-season friendly.

But in attack, he proved a danger again and his surging run in the first half before his cushioned header to tee up Palmer, who subsequently missed from close range, was brilliant. 

Guardiola will be calling for consistency from his left back, who hasn’t been helped by injuries during his time at the Etihad.

Benjamin Mendy needs to show more consistency to earn his place in City’s starting line-up

4) GUARDIOLA WILL APPROVE OF CITY’S SECOND

Following Phil Foden’s incredible emergence as a City starter last season, Guardiola is on the lookout for his next big thing.

He put out a young team to allow the academy players the chance to show what they possess, and after a rather flavourless first half, they burst into life in the second.

And Guardiola – a perfectionist when it comes to good football – certainly will have approved of City’s second goal of the evening. 

James McAtee and Samuel Edozie were brought on at half-time as Guardiola made 10 substitutions and their introduction paid off quickly after combining ever so brilliantly to double City’s advantage over Preston.

McAtee had already sent a warning signal to Preston’s defence with a mazy run, and then after a lack of pressure from the opposition, he punished them by sliding in Edozie who emphatically slotted home folllowing some fine build-up play.

Samuel Edozie (left) celebrates after scoring City’s second after some great play in build-up

5) CITY’S DNA IS CLEAR FOR ALL TO SEE

Since Guardiola’s arrival at City, he has turned his side into arguably the greatest attacking unit in European football thanks to their free-flowing and fast-paced tempo.

Opposition defences can’t keep up with City’s blistering play, and Guardiola will have been delighted by what he saw from his youngsters on Tuesday night.

While City’s second will grab plenty of the attention, the tempo on the ball from an XI full of youngsters was very impressive.

Whenever Preston pressed City’s youngsters, they didn’t shy away from responsibility and held onto the ball ever so comfortably as a team.

That style of play very much comes from Guardiola, and that DNA has clearly been instilled into the academy.

City’s youngsters looked very impressive on the ball when put under pressure from Preston