‘It was freedom, without pressure’: Aït-Nouri delighted by Manchester City start

The £31m signing from Wolves says Pep Guardiola’s instructions helped spark an eye-catching debut against Al Ain

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ith relentless zigzag bursts along the wing and razor-sharp dribbling into Al Ain’s area, Manchester City’s new left-back, Rayan Aït-Nouri, was a potent force in Sunday’s 6-0 win at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

In City’s second Club World Cup group victory, the 24-year-old executed precisely what Pep Guardiola instructed him to do.

“He told me to play my game without pressure,” Aït-Nouri says. “Drive with the ball, cross also in the box. I try to respect the advice he gives me. Hopefully, we’ll be good for the next few stages. It was freedom. I’m very happy to play like this, without the pressure.”