Pep Guardiola: 'Some players underperformed' despite 5-0 win at Sporting Lisbon

Pep Guardiola believes some of his Manchester City players 'underperformed' in their 5-0 victory away against Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday night.

The Citizens started brightly and took the lead in the seventh minute through Riyad Mahrez, before a stunning half-volley from former Benfica man Bernardo Silva gave the visitors a two-goal lead in the 17th minute.

After Phil Foden added a third just after the half-hour mark, Silva netted his second of the night on the stroke of half time, before Raheem Sterling curled in his 150th club career goal to cap a five-star performance from the Premier League leaders, who recorded the joint-biggest away win in the competition by an English club in the knockout stages.

Guardiola was happy with the result, but despite dominating proceedings in Portugal, the Spaniard still believes that his team could have performed at a higher level.

Speaking to BT Sport in his post-match interview, Guardiola said: "Some players under perform. We lost easy balls but today we were so clinical. Every time we arrive in the first 20 minutes we score.

"The difference between both teams is not 5-0. They attack with lots of players and we punish them with counter attacks.

"The players know me, we can do better. A few players who didn't do what they have to do in the build-up. I'm incredibly happy, please don't misunderstand me, but we can do better."

Man City, who have won each of their last five Champions League knockout matches away from home, will now prepare for Saturday's Premier League encounter with Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium.